BASEBALL PREVIEW: Rivalry Night Game, Phillipsburg vs. Easton at Coca-Cola Park

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - The Phillipsburg High School baseball team will attempt to win a season-high three straight games for the fourth time this season against arch-Rival Easton tonight after defeating Bernards, 7-1, on the road in a Skyland Conference Valley Division game on Thursday.

The Stateliners (9-5 overall, 5-2 division), off to their best start in years, meet the Red Rovers (6-9) at 7 p.m. tonight at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Easton has won the last six meetings between the rivals with Phillipsburg’s last victory coming on May 15, 2016 by a 6-5 score. P’burg finished 5-19 in the 2016 season.

With the victory, Phillipsburg moved into second place in the division behind Delaware Valley (5-1-1 division). The Stateliners, who meet the Terriers again on May 9, are the only division team to beat Del Val, 1-0, on April 18 behind Jared Diefenbach’s shutout pitching and Felix Matos’ RBI single.

P’burg scored three runs in the second and one in the fourth against Bernards which was plenty for starting pitcher Jacob Kisselbach, who came within one out of tossing a shutout. The senior righthander allowed five hits and one run, walked six and struck out four. Eddie Weidel came on for the final out.

Seniors Kevin Burgess and Dylan Wayne and sophomore Mike Bracco each drove in two runs for the ‘Liners with Bracco taking over the team lead with 14 RBI this season while batting .385. Burgess leads the team with 18 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Weindel, who along with Burgess and Wayne lead P’burg with 16 hits this season, went 2-for-4. Kisselbach lowered his ERA to a team-best 1.31 in 35.2 innings pitched this season.

Terrence Henratty drove in the only run of the game for Bernards (6-7-1, 4-3).

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net