STATEN ISLAND, NY- Splendid pitching and timely hitting helped the Baby Bombers pickup their first home win of the season. Starter Casey Erickson went six strong innings teaming with two relievers to shutdown the Renegades en route to a 3-0 shutout before a third consecutive sellout crowd of 7,171 on an overcast day at Richmond County Bank Ball Park in St. George.

“That’s what wins championships right there. Pitching and defense. We execute both today,” pleased shortstop Addison Maruszak remarked in the winner’s dugout of a fun matinee which took only two hours and 24 minutes to complete.

The Bombers used a two-run third highlighted by right fielder Dan Brewer’s clutch two out two-run opposite field single to give Erickson the lead. Sharp all day despite putting at least one runner on in five of the six innings, the 22 year-old former 2006 10th round pick effectively used three pitches including a change to keep Hudson Valley batters off balance.

A half inning before his teammates got on the board, the 6-3 righthander helped his own cause by taking a page out of David Phelps’ book. The Friday night starter in the opening game of the series caught a Renegade baserunner napping at second. This time, Erickson picked off Michael Ross at second tossing to Ryan Wilkes for a 1-4 putout. He then finished off the frame by assisting on a 1-4-3 ground out to get Mike McKenna.

Left fielder D.J. Hollingsworth’s hustle in the home half helped spark the inning. After a clean leadoff single to center, the speedy second-year Staten Island Yankee took second on Kyeong Kong’s throwing error. Following a walk to center fielder Ray Kruml, third baseman Braedyn Pruitt’s grounder to first advanced the runners into scoring position with two out. Brewer followed by going with losing starter Tyree Hayes’ outside pitch serving it into short right for the game’s first couple of runs.

Up two, Erickson made it stick by continuing to pitch well with runners on. In the fifth, he worked around a Jacob Jefferies leadoff double by getting Mark Thomas swinging, Jason Appel 4-3 and Michael Ross on a comebacker. In his final inning, he buckled down after a visit from skipper Pat McMahon. Following a one out walk, Erickson finished strong by getting the last two batters including Kang on an unassisted force out to Maruszak.

The Bombers got a key insurance run in the seventh thanks to solid execution. First baseman Jahdiel Santamaria started it by beating out an infield hit and advanced to second on a Hollingsworth sacrifice. Maruszak then came up and went the other way for an RBI single which scored Santamaria.

“In those situations, you got to look for something to drive and you can’t be willing to miss. You just got to find a hard ball to drive and just hit it,” Maruszak added.

The bullpen also came in and shut the door with Jason Kiley tossing two scoreless while fanning three before giving way to the two armed man everyone’s still talking about Pat Venditte. In his home debut before an entertained crowd, he didn’t disappoint retiring Hudson Valley in order including the final two batters via strikeouts on nasty breaking stuff which neither had much chance on.

“It was good to finally get to pitch in front of the home crowd,” the now infamous switch pitcher said while at his locker. “To have the crowd behind you helps a lot. … I got ahead of hitters which helps a lot. That’s what I’ve noticed so far just watching games.”

Most importantly, the Bombers cameback to take the final two games and win their first series of the summer evening their record at 3-3.

“That’s the key is just to win series,” Maruszak also stated.

“Look for the sweep but if it doesn’t happen, you got to win the series. And if you split the first two, you got to win the third game.”

Notes: Staten Island was outhit 7-4 by their opponents but made their four count. … OF Taylor Grote and 2B David Adams sat out. … Erickson went six without allowing a run on five hits while walking one and striking out three for his first win of the season. … In defeat, Hayes permitted two earned on two hits while walking four in 4.2 IP dropping to 0-2. … Jefferies finished 3-for-4 in defeat. … Bombers hit the road the next four days with stops in Aberdeen the next three before visiting Hudson Valley for two of three later this week with one home game Friday night.