McHENRY, Md. - With victories number 40 and 41, the Harford baseball team eclipsed the 40-win plateau, becoming just the eighth team in NCAA and NJCAA baseball to win that many games this season.
The Fighting Owls (41-11, 21-7) held on in game one against Garrett (13-34, 8-16) before bursting out to a big lead in the first inning of game two, winning 3-2 and 16-5 (5).
Including Harford, three other teams in the NJCAA have at least 40 wins. In the NCAA, four other teams have as many wins as the Region XX regular-season champion Fighting Owls.
Harford 3, Garrett 2
A three-run fifth inning gave sophomore
Corey Taylor just enough support in a 3-2 victory in the opener. Taylor improved to 8-2 on the season with his fifth complete game effort.
The Fighting Owls manufactured three runs in the top of the fifth when
Matt Lugollo scored on a squeeze bunt by
Jonathan Castro before
Kyle Lindsey scored on a wild pitch. After
Alex Riley walked and stole second,
Simon Beloff plated the eventual winning run with an RBI single to right field.
Taylor allowed one earned run on just three hits to go along with five strikeouts.
Harford 16, Garrett 5 (5)
A seven-run first inning put Harford ahead for good in the nightcap of the road trip. Eleven batters came to the plate, with the big hit coming off the bat of catcher
Nick Octavi, a two-run double.
Octavi, Lindsey, Beloff and Castro each recorded a pair of hits in the win. They also combined for seven RBIs on the evening.
Jason Seitler improved his team-best record to 9-2, pitching four innings, allowing three unearned runs.
Ryan Nuekam pitched the final inning of work.
The Fighting Owls return home for a doubleheader against Baltimore City on Friday at 1 p.m.
40-Win Collegiate Baseball Teams (as of May 4, 2011)
Univ. of Virginia (NCAA DI) - 42 wins
West Florida (NCAA DII) - 42 wins
St. Mary's (Tx.) (NCAA DII) - 42 wins
Central Arizona (NJCAA DI) - 42 wins
Harford (NJCAA DI) - 41 wins
Salt Lake (NJCAA DI) - 41 wins
Catawaba (NCAA DI) - 40 wins
North Arkansas (NJCAA DIII) - 40 wins
