BEL AIR, Md. - Sophomore
Jason Seitler kept the string of outstanding pitching performances going with a dandy on the mound on Friday night, but it was his battery mate
Nick Octavi who helped get the righthander the win with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to propel Harford (18-5) to a 3-2 victory over ASA (12-10) at home.
Seitler (4-1) held the Avengers to just two sinlges in eight innings of work, allowing a pair of unearned runs in the eighth inning that tied the score at 2-2. He struck out a career-high 12 while walking four.
With two outs in the eighth,
Kyle Lindsey lined a single down the third base line that hit the bag and allowed the speedster to easily reach first base to start the rally.
Dennis Mitchell drew a walk and Octavi lined a single off the first baseman's glove and into right field that easily scored Lindsey with the winning run.
Taylor Nelson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the season, striking out a pair.
The Harford offense picked its spots against ASA's Patrick Robinson, who struck out 10 batters. The righthander went the distance, but Harford scratched out a run in the fifth and sixth innings, which looked like enough they way Seitler was dealing.
Octavi doubled to open the fifth and scored on
Norm Donkin's RBI triple. In the sixth,
James Wilson, who also doubled, scored on Mitchell's double. Eight of nine starters collected a hit, with Octavi as the lone player with two hits.
The Harford pitching staff has been the story all year, especially in the month of March. The Fighting Owls have tossed a pair of no-hitters, a one-hitter, Friday night's two-hitter and a pair of three-hit performances. Seitler became the second Harford hurler to strike out at least 10 (
Taylor Nace-11) this year, while
Nick Stallings struck out nine during the marvelous pitching stretch.
The Fighting Owls road contest against Southern Maryland scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to poor weather conditions. Harford is back in action at home, where they are 10-0, against Prince George's on Tuesday.
