OCC Baseball Topples National #1 Northampton CC, 6-5

Toms River, NJ - Ocean County College Baseball improved to an overall record of 18-16 following a stunning 6-5 upset of nationally-ranked #1 Northampton Community College on Saturday (4/27).

The Vikings' season has been a proverbial roller coaster ride, with injuries and weather-forced rescheduling taking their toll, with win streaks followed by losing streaks, and vice versa. Today's upset snapped a 4-game winless streak, the longest drought of the season, in fantastic fashion.

Answering the call to start just minutes before 1st pitch, sophomore right hander Ryan Preston turned in his best pitching performance of his Ocean career, scattering 9 hits through 7 innings to earn the complete game win against a team ranked 4th nationally in batting average. OCC freshman Ryan Ushock drove in 2 runs and had 2 hits, and freshman AJ Pierson drove in 1 on 3 for 4 hitting in the win. Ocean freshman 3rd baseman Evan Kwortnik also drove in 2 runs in this gritty team win. 

The Vikings are fighting to earn their ticket to the postseason, and will continue to battle on Tuesday, April 30, when they host the Dukes of RCSJ Cumberland for a 2 P.M. doubleheader.