MIDDLESEX COLLEGE BASEBALL TAKES SERIES FROM NATIONALLY RANKED FOE FOR THIRD TIME THIS YEAR

For the third time this season, the Middlesex College Baseball team played a series against a nationally ranked opponent and just like the previous two times, the Colts came away with a series victory.

In their most recent series against a team in the NJCAA National Poll, Middlesex, currently ranked #12 in the country themselves, took two out of three from #14 RCSJ-Cumberland.

They won the first two games of the series by scores of 13-7 and 6-4 before dropping Game 3, 8-4. The Colts are now 27-12 on the season.

Earlier this season, Middlesex won series from RCSJ-Gloucester, who was ranked #1 in the country at the time and Brookdale CC, who was ranked #10 when the two teams faced off.

In the first game of the RCSJ-Cumberland series, Middlesex had the bats working early as they scored 10 runs in the first 4 innings of the game. The Dukes finally got to Colts starter Drew Lukachyk in the fifth, but relievers Louis Aponte and Tyler Oleksy were able to steer Middlesex through the final 4.1 innings on their way to a win.

Middlesex had 12 hits and took advantage of 10 RCSJ-Cumberland walks in the game.

Chase Trolaro was one of many offensive stars for Middlesex, going 3-5 with 3 runs, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. Stanley Bobadilla went 2-5 with 2 runs, a stolen base 3 RBIs, and his fourth home run of the season.

Ryan Acquisto and Julian Collado each had two hits for the Colts while Chris Fogarile scored 2 runs, drove home 2 runs and drew 2 walks.

For much of the second game of the series, it looked like Middlesex would cruise to a victory as they carried a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning of the seven-inning game, but RCSJ-Cumberland was able to rally for 4 runs in the top of the sixth off starter Nick Anderson. However, Anderson was able to work his way out of the inning with the lead preserved before handing the game over to Elvys Quezada.

Quezada pitched a perfect seventh to pick up the save in the close two-run win.

Once again, Bobadilla was tremendous at the plate for Middlesex. The freshman shortstop went 3-3 with 2 runs, 2 doubles and an RBI. It was his 9^th game this season with at least 3 hits. He currently ranks third in the country among NJCAA Division III baseball players with 62 hits.

Collado went 2-3 with a run and Jackson Simonsen drove home a run as well for Middlesex.

With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Middlesex has positioned itself near the top of the Region 19 regular season standings. They currently sit in third place in the 13-team Region 19 standings, just one game behind Brookdale CC, who they hold a tiebreaker over.

The Colts return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Northampton CC for a midweek two-game home-and-home series against the Spartans. Tuesday's game at Northampton is scheduled for a 3:30PM first pitch.