BETHEL — For the second time in as many games, Washington’s baseball team blanked North Pitt, 5-0, on Thursday night. Junior Chris Sulc pitched a complete game, giving up only three hits with eight strikeouts.

To illustrate how in command Sulc was, after the Panther lead-off man doubled in the home half of the first inning, Sulc set down eight consecutive Panther batters until he walked the last batter of the third inning. Aside from the first-inning double, Sulc was never threatened and kept Panther batters in check.

Over the course of the week, between Tuesday starter Tripp Barfield and Sulc, Pam Pack pitching struck out 16 Panther batters while giving up only four hits.

Offensively, Pam Pack batters struck for eight hits against D1 college-bound Panther starter Trey Jernigan. Senior Matt Black walked to open the game, stole second, and came home on a hit by Sulc.

In the second, Barfield hammered a double over the left fielder’s head, moved to third on an infield hit by junior Tyler Harrell, and scored when senior Riley Davis beat the throw to first on a potential double play ball.

In the third, Black beat out an infield single, stole second base, moved to third on Sulc’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on junior Fred Holscher’s deep chopper to short. The Pam Pack closed out the scoring in the top of the fifth when Davis singled, Black walked, and Sulc singled. Both Davis and Black scored in the inning.

Washington played its most efficient offensive game of the season as the team took advantage of steal and bunt opportunities to move runners up to score on either timely hits or infield grounders. For the game, Barfield collected a single in addition to his double and Sulc had a pair of hits. Black, Davis, Harrell, and senior Logan Little contributed singles.

The Pam Pack is beginning to play up to its talent and potential as evidenced by strong pitching, timely hitting, solid defense, and aggressive base running. With the win, Washington moves to an impressive 4-0 in conference play, and 7-5 overall.

Next week, the hot Pam Pack takes on an improving Beddingfield team in a conference home-and-home series, plus a mid-week game at home on Wednesday with future conference foe South Lenoir.

The next two conference series — Beddingfield, which is followed by state-ranked North Johnston — will most likely tell the tale for this conference season. With its current high level of play, there is no reason that Washington will not be in the thick of the conference race.