KEYSER, W.V. — Top-seeded Harford Community College put away second-seeded Potomac State College in six innings after the Catamounts had defeated third-seeded Hagerstown Community College during the first day of the NJCAA Region XX Division I baseball tournament Saturday at Golden Park.
The Catamounts (30-9) beat Hagerstown in the opener, 9-1, then lost to Harford 10-0. Potomac State and Hagerstown will now play again today at 11 a.m. in the elimination game. The winner of that game will play Harford at 3 p.m. If necessary, a final game will be played Monday at noon.
The winner of the tournament will host the Eastern District Finals next weekend, while the runners-up will also qualify to be one of the four teams in that tournament.
In the Catamounts’ 9-1 win over Hagerstown, the game went in the books in the seventh inning when Potomac State scored seven times to take an eight-run lead.
Brandon Schaeffer went all seven innings to improve his record to 6-1, giving up five hits, one run and striking out nine.
Austin Chavis hit a two-run double in the big seventh inning for the Catamounts, while Hayden Almond had two singles and an RBI and Juwuan Weaver two singles.
Austin Martin, Dale Houser, Cole Miller and Foster Conis all knocked in runs for Potomac State
Josh Menders doubled and Austin Moser singled and knocked in the run for Hagerstown (37-17).
In the second game, walks would help do in the Catamounts as Hartford (44-7) opened an eight-run second inning with a pair of walks to Jimmy Nixon and Jordyn Smith. Thomas Hojnacki then singled to load the bases, and with one out Nolan Charlton singled to center to score Nixon.
Reyce Currane and Spencer Smith then walked to force in two more runs, and then Matthew Schilling was hit by a pitch to force in another one, which set up a grand slam home run by Spencer Harbert to make it 8-0.
Herbert finished the day with another single and five runs batted in. Smith was 2 for 2 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Charlton had two hits and an RBI.
Braeden Fausnaught (7-1) got the win, allowing three hits and striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings.
Conis doubled for Potomac State.