North Lake Knocks off No. 6 Richland

DALLAS – Dallas College North Lake's baseball team knocked off sixth-ranked Dallas College Richland, 6-3, to open a three-game series Wednesday.

It is the Blazers' second win over a ranked opponent this season. They beat then-No. 7 Joliet Junior College, 7-1, in March.

North Lake (23-27, 12-13 Dallas Athletic Conference) maintained its spot in third place in the league standings, while Richland (33-16, 19-6) fell a game behind frontrunner and third-ranked Dallas College Eastfield (39-11, 20-5). The Blazers will host the Thunderducks for Games 2 and 3 Friday and Saturday at noon. A fourth game, designated as a nonconference matchup, is set to follow the completion of the series also on Saturday at North Lake.

Joseph Binder's fourth home run of the year spotted the Blazers a four-run lead in the top of the seventh inning. That came three innings after Michael Holden's RBI single to center and Eric De Anda's sacrifice fly put North Lake ahead, 2-0.

De Anda's single to right scored Holden in the eighth to extend the lead to 5-0 before Richland's Jouseph Gelpi doubled to left to drive in a run in the bottom half of the inning. Lincoln Skinner, who went 3-for-4, had a sacrifice fly to left in the ninth to put the Blazers back on top by five.

The Thunderducks picked up two runs in their final at-bat on Kelton Phillips' single to right and Trey Smith's single to left, but North Lake reliever Branden Kirtley needed to only four batters in the ninth, getting a double play ball to end the game to secure the victory.

North Lake starter Logan Stark tossed his best outing of the season, allowing no runs, while scattering five hits, and giving up a walk in six innings to pick up his first win in his eighth appearance.

Holden also went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Binder was 2-for-4 with the double to go along with his two-run homer. Phillips and Nick Hockemeyer each went 2-for-5 for the Thunderducks, who were coming off a 7-6 win over Eastfield in 10 innings Friday.

North Lake outhit the nation's fourth-leading run-producing team, 13-9.  

It was the Blazers' third straight win.