For the second time in as many weeks, the Salisbury Falcons adult baseball team took down the Alpha Braves of New Jersey in a Lehigh Valley Baseball League game last Sunday afternoon in Alpha, NJ.

Salisbury High School alumni Justin Aungst and Nic Ampietro led the way on defense and offense, respectively, to stake the Falcons to a 5-1 victory and a 2-0 start to the summer campaign. Salisbury defeated Alpha 10-2 in week one of the season.

Aungst, the current head varsity coach at Salisbury, threw a complete game (9 innings), allowing just the one run on six hits and struck out 11 Braves batters. Ampietro was one of four Falcons hitters to record multi-hit games, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, as Salisbury doubled up Alpha 12-6 in total hits.

“In both of our wins so far, we got out to a good start early, which was followed up by some great pitching from Gabe [Mosser], Justin [Aungst] and Evan [Kulig],” said Ampietro. “Our lineup is putting balls in play and making other teams work, which is great to start the year. Opening 2-0 is great and hopefully we can keep the momentum rolling into our next game.”

The Falcons scored in their first plate appearance on a two-run hit by Brad Vangeli, who finished 2-for-3, joining Tyler Tocci and Aungst with two hits. After a run-scoring hit by Brandon Black to put Salisbury ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the two teams were scoreless over the next two frames before Ampietro went yard for his team’s first long ball of the season.

“I was only seeing off-speed pitches during my first two at-bats, so I knew they’d try to mix it up and give me a fast ball in my next one,” Ampietro said. “I expected it so I jumped on the first fast ball I saw and luckily got some good wood on it.”

Aungst, who finished off the week one victory for Mosser with four innings, went the distance for his team in this one. The trio of Aungst, Mosser and Kulig have allowed just three runs in two games, one being earned, and eight total hits.

“It’s amazing playing behind such experienced and talented pitchers like Justin and Gabe,” said Ampietro. “It makes our fielders’ lives easier because we can count on them to hit their spots, allowing us to be in better position if the ball comes our way.”

Salisbury will have this weekend off and will next play on Sunday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at Egypt Memorial Park against the Lehigh Valley Cardinals. The matchup will feature two unbeaten teams with the Falcons at 2-0 and the Cardinals at 3-0.