COLUMBIA, MD — The River Hill baseball team, which lost all four games it played in March, was more than happy to see the calendar turn to April.
After their 3-2 win at Wilde Lake on April 16, the Hawks have now won three of their last five games, all in April.
Senior ace Rohan Tilva pitched a strong outing to earn the win, striking out 10 in the complete game effort, and allowing just the two runs on five hits, four walks and one hit batter.
The Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Ryan Benedek was hit by a pitch to lead off before Wildecats starting pitcher Jared Mouton got a ground out and a strikeout. Jake Parker then flared a clutch RBI single into shallow right field, stole second, and scored on Luke Parker's double up the first base line.
Wilde Lake answered in the fourth when Cuinn Mullins singled then scored on an RBI double off of the pitcher's mound by Matthew Aubin, then Brandon Williams succesfully executed a sacrifice bunt to plate Wyatt Oler, who reached on a fielder's choice, from third.
The Hawks immediately scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of that inning, though. Catcher Luke Parker drew a two-out walk, then courtesy runner Tucker Finkleston advanced to third on a Kieran Garner double to the center field gap before scoring on a Jordan Northrup line drive single up the third base line.
Tilva got into some trouble in fifth inning by walking the bases loaded, but eventually struck out the side to get out of the jam, and then retired five batters in a row — allowing a harmless Mouton walk with two outs in the seventh — before recording his 10th strikeout of the game to seal the victory.
Wildecats lefty Michael Palasits saved at least one run in the third when he made a catch in left field, then fired home to Aubin, who made the sprawling tag to end the inning with the bases loaded. Palasits also pitched two innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and allowing just one hit, a two-out Luke Parker single in the sixth.
River Hill will try to continue its winning ways at winless Oakland Mills on Friday, while Wilde Lake will host Atholton on Saturday at 2 p.m.
WL (4-5) 000 200 0 - 2 5 1
RH (2-5) 020 100 x - 3 9 1
Mouton, Irizarry-Cruz (3), Palasits (5) and Aubin. Tilva and L. Parker.
2B: RH — L. Parker, Garner. WL — Aubin.