Miky Tavarez goes 6-for-6 as RVCC beats #12 Middlesex

There were runs aplenty on Tuesday at RVCC, as the Lions topped #12 Middlesex College 20-11. Raritan Valley collected 22 hits, while Middlesex had 15. 

Sophmore infielder Miky Tavarez collected six hits in six at bats in the win! Tavarez hit a solo home run in the second inning, singled in the third and fourth innings, and doubled in the eighth. He also drove in three runs. Sophmore Tommy Basse went 5-for-6 on the day and freshman Mike Shipula drove in 5 runs. 

Middlesex College got on the board in the top of the first after they got a few men on via the walk. RVCC took a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to hits by Shipula and Tavarez. The Middlesex offense chased RV starter Ray Nault in the fourth when they scored five runs on five hits to take a 8-6 lead. RVCC captured the lead back in the bottom of the fourth, when a Mike Shipula double scored two, Andrew Kessler singled and Miky Tavarez singled each scoring a run. 

Raritan Valley scored five more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Teodoro Garcica singled in a run, sophmore Nick Sellitti drove on in via a Sac-Fly, Anthony DeNora tripled, Tommy Baase doubled and Mike Shipula singled each driving in another run. 

Freshman Ben Linzer earned the win for RVCC (his 4th of the season). The righty gave up three hits and one run over three and two-thirds innings, striking out five and walking one. Linzer's five strikeouts brings his season total to 54 which currently leads all of Region XIX. Anthony DeNora pitched the final two innings of the contest, surrenduring 3 hits and two runs while striking out three.

RVCC is now 15-12 on the season and 5-7 in region play. They will face Sussex County CC this Friday and Saturday for a three game series. (Friday @RVCC 3:00pm, Saturday @Sussex 12:00 & 3:00pm)