HARPURSVILLE – The Oxford varsity baseball team ventured to the nest of the always daunting Harpursville Hornets, walking away from the tightly contested scuffle with a 3-1 loss.

Oxford, who has essentially been ‘in’ all three of their games this season, has now fallen to an 0-2-1 team record with their most recent loss on April 10.

The difference in the game, Harpursville used their stud pitcher – Ryan Kachmar. Kachmar torched the lineup of Oxford, devouring nearly all who stepped to the plate en route to 14 strikeout, one hit, one walk performance – in seven innings pitched with 104 pitches total.

“Kachmar threw really well. He threw 75 percent strikes and had a decent fastball all game long,” said Oxford head coach Chris Palmer.

The Blackhawks attempted to hang with the Hornets on the mound, as they employed Austin Crawford – who took the ultimate loss – having Crawford pitch five innings where he tagged six strikeouts. Brad Beckwith came in in relief, pitching one inning and tagging on an additional two strikeouts in 15 total pitches.

The Hornets took the lead in the first inning when Ryan Kachmar hit a grounder into a fielder’s choice, sending Chris Dattoria in for the first run of the game. With just one out thus far, Harpursville’s Wilkinson snagged a hit off Crawford – an eventual sacrifice ground out. Wilkinson’s hit allowed fellow Hornet Josh Wilson to speed his way home for the second strike of the inning.