LASKER – Four runs batted in off the stick of Nick Hoggard helped lead Ridgecroft School past Northampton County 16-2 here Tuesday in the consolation game of the Sgt. Will McLawhorn Scholarship Baseball Tournament.

Hoggard drove in runs with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, a pair of singles in the second and a double in the fourth. It was the Rams’ fourth win in their last five games.

The Jaguars got on the board in the top of the first when Shyheem Futrell singled, stole second, went to third on an error, and scored when Jamonta Branch clubbed a one-out base hit to centerfield. It was 1-0, Northampton, after a half-inning of baseball.

It didn’t take Ridgecroft long to get going in their half of the frame. Zeb Askew reached on a dropped third strike and the floodgates opened from there. Askew stole second and went to third on David Basnight’s bunt single. Hoggard’s sac fly was dropped, but brought in the first run; then Wyatt Whitley clubbed a two-run grounder and later scored on an error. The last run of the inning was scored like the first: on a dropped third strike. The Rams now led it 5-1.

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Ridgecroft then doubled that number in the second inning when they sent 16 batters to the plate.  The Rams scored on a single by Basnight, a single by  Hoggard, a double by Whitley, a double by Grayson Joyner, a single by Finn Dunn, a single by Seth Parker, a double by Askew, another single by Basnight, and a second single by Hoggard. When the dust cleared, it was 15-1, Ridgecroft.

Northampton pushed across another run in the top of the third. Branch doubled, went to third on Tremane Williams’ hard grounder, and then scored on a thrilling steal of home plate.

The Rams’ 16^th and final run came in the bottom of the fourth when Basnight walked and scored on Hoggard’s double to right field. The game was called after four-and-a-half innings with Ridgecroft getting the 14-run win.

Bryce Stevens earned the win going three innings, surrendering two runs, four hits, striking out five, and walking one. Futrell took the loss for Northampton, tossing just one inning, surrendering seven runs, two hits, and striking out two

Ridgecroft banged out 13 hits. Basnight, Hoggard, and Whitley each collected three hits apiece for the Rams. Whitley and Hoggard each drove in four runs to lead the Ridgecroft offensive attack. Branch went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Northampton.

“I think we’ve turned the corner,” said Rams coach Joe Maione. “The guys are buying in, and we’re getting some consistency. Most of all, they’re having fun.”

Ridgecroft (10-8) returns to Tarheel Independent Conference play with their regular-season finale next Thursday in Merry Hill against Lawrence Academy.