MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The North Adams SteepleCats remained one of the hottest hitting teams in the NECBL with a 13-5 victory over the Vermont Mountaineers on Sunday night at Montpelier Recreation Field.

 

The SteepleCats have scored 71 runs in their last seven games, and have gone 5-2 in that time.

 

Vermont and the SteepleCats played two scoreless innings before a third inning that saw North Adams score four and the Mountaineers respond for three. After two walks were drawn in the top of the third, Taylor Lane (Arizona State) drove in the opening run of the game with an RBI single. The SteepleCats stretched the lead to 4-0 on a two-run single from Jonathan Engelmann (Michigan) and an RBI single by Curtis Godin (UCLA).

 

In the bottom half, Bryce Aldridge (Wabash) started the action with a double, and was brought in by a Chase Grant (Nevada) single. The Mountaineers then loaded the bases on a hit batsmen and a walk, and were able to plate two more runs on a fielder's choice and error off the bat of Jeff Scott (Bowling Green).

 

North Adams took control of the contest in the top of the fourth inning, hanging a second consecutive four-spot on the Mountaineers. Lane drove in two more runs with a one-out double, and Engelmann increased the North Adams advantage to five runs when he drove in his third and fourth runs of the night on a single.

 

Five more runs crossed the plate in the top of the sixth, essentially ensuring a fifth win in seven tries for the SteepleCats. Tyler Walters (Slippery Rock) hit safely for the tenth game in a row with a double, and Lane followed with a double of his own to drive in his fourth run of the game. Jake Ackerman (Mission College) added an RBI double of his own, and RBI singles were provided by Joe Gillette (Menlo College) and Dillon Paulson (USC). Paulson, who will play in next weekend's NECBL All-Star Game, hit safely for the 11th consecutive game and reached base for the 16th straight contest.

 

Vermont scored its final runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single from Ben Bavly (Northeastern), and then on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

 

Braxton Wilks (Abilene Christian) was sensational out of the bullpen, earning his third win to move his NECBL career record to 11-1. Wilks tossed 4-2/3 innings, and allowed just one run on two hits. Lanesborough's Rob Buffis (Ithaca) gave up two earned runs in 3-1/3 innings.

 

The SteepleCats, who are now two games behind the Keene Swamp Bats for the final Northern Division playoff spot, return home for two consecutive contests at Joe Wolfe Field. Alex Pantuso (Slippery Rock) will climb the mound against the Winnipesaukee Muskrats, who are tied with the 'Cats for fourth place in the division.