ARCATA — The Arcata Tigers scored all of their runs in the first three innings while blanking the Middletown Mustangs 5-0 in a first-round game of the North Coast Section Division IV baseball playoffs on Tuesday night in Arcata.
Winning pitcher Danny Bednar worked six innings for the victory and was never in any trouble against the Mustangs, who managed just four hits — all singles.
Middletown (13-11) never advanced a runner past second base.
“We just would have liked to have had a more competitive game,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said.
The Mustangs, third in the North Central League I North this season, received hits from Andres Fernandez, Jon Tanguay, Connor Chick and Bryan Holt.
Saul Preciado, the first of three Middletown pitchers, took the loss.
Arcata improves to 17-8 and will host McKinleyville (16-8) in the quarterfinals on Saturday night.
