BEL AIR, Md. – The Harford baseball team pitched a pair of shutouts in their doubleheader sweep of Erie Friday afternoon, winning 11-0 and 10-0.
Both games were shortened to five innings due to the run rule.
Josh Houser and
Josh Silvestri each went the distance on the hill for Harford (19-6) who have now won 12 straight.
Harford 11, Erie 0In game one, Houser(3-1) held the Kats to four hits while issuing two walks and three strikeouts.
The offense only scored in two of the five innings, plating five in the second and six in the fourth. Both scoring innings were punctuated with big home runs.
Andrew Valichka opened the scoring for the Fighting Owls in the second, driving in a pair with a single through the right side. Two batters later
Jack Hamner launched a three-run shot to centerfield, his fourth long ball of the season, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Colby Dean tripled to drive a run in in the fourth. He came home to score on a wild pitch.
Dominic DiSabatino delivered the knockout punch with a grand slam later on in the frame. Hamner and
Joe Burton each drew walks, sandwiched around
Daulton Weeks getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. DiSabatino cashed them all in with a blast to left field, his third of the season.
Harford 10, Erie 0Silvestri (3-0) was stellar in game two, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 and walking none. He started the game off striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced.
Josh SilvestriThe big blow of the game was delivered by
Chase DeMars who hit a three-run moonshot over the blue monster in left. DeMars' sixth home run of the season pushed Harford's lead to 5-0. He came up in the bottom of the fifth and drove in two on a single to left center to give the Fighting Owls a 10-run lead and the walk-off win. For the game he went 2-for-3 with a walk, five RBI and a run scored. He also stole a base.
As a team, Harford only had six hits but drew 11 walks.
Dean was 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. He drove a run in in the third with a double.
Max Joseph drew walks in each of his two plate appearances. He scored twice and stole a base.
The Fighting Owls will be off until Tuesday when they travel to New Jersey to face Mercer County in a twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
