OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Big bats led the Old Orchard Beach Surge to a dominant 18-5 win over the visiting Sullivan Explorers Monday night at The Ballpark.

The Surge had 29 baserunners throughout the evening, with 14 coming from hits and 13 from walks to pressure the Explorers.

OOB coach Skip Nathanson has been pleased with his team’s offense in recent games.

“Lately we have had very good plate discipline, we have been taking our walks and making the most of them. We swung very well tonight,” said Nathanson. “(Sullivan pitcher) David Papa is a very good pitcher, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him behind as much as he was tonight. We got some pretty good swings with men on base and that’s the idea.”

Sullivan struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring runs off an error and an RBI double from Adrian Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead.

OOB took control and never let it go in the bottom half of the first by scoring nine runs.

In the first inning OOB collected six hits, including an RBI single from Luc Pomales, an RBI double from Bryan White, a three-run double from Joshua Martinez and a two-run single from Jacob Fabry. Papa also walked in two runs in the inning.

The Explorers would get a run in the top half of the second off an RBI single from Kevin Putkonen, but OOB added four more runs in the bottom half off a grand slam by Brandon Cooksey to take a 13-3 lead early in the game.

Nate Coronado hoped to start something for Sullivan in the sixth, hitting an RBI triple to add the Explorers’ fourth run, however the Surge quickly escaped the jam.

The Surge later added its final five runs in the eighth inning, two coming from wild pitches, along with an RBI double from Pomales and a two-run single from Jordyn Van Atta.

The Explorers added one more run off an error in the ninth, but OOB secured the big win.

Christian Telemaco made his first start for OOB, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and earning a strikeout. Cody Frank pitched the next two innings in relief, allowing no runs on just three hits and collecting three strikeouts. Rich Baerga closed out the ninth for OOB, allowing a run on no hits and fanning one.

Nathanson was also happy with his pitchers Monday night.

“Telemaco did a really good job filling in for one of our pitchers. This was a beautiful start, he pitched really well in the rain which isn’t easy to do, then Cody Frank came in a pitched two good innings then Baerga finished it up. It was a really good team victory,” said Nathanson.

Sullivan used five different pitchers Monday night.

Papa lasted just 2/3 of an inning, allowing nine runs on five hits and walking three. Evander Ledward pitched the next 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on two hits and walking three.

Grayson Weber later pitched the next 4 2/3 for Sullivan, allowing four runs on five hits while Rich Ruff allowed a run in the eighth, along with Gonzalez who closed out the inning.

OOB improves to 8-3 on the year, and Nathanson is excited with his team’s progress so far this season.

“We had some guys that I did not know going into spring training who I felt would be very talented players for our team and they are exploding, they are exploding onto the scene. I am thrilled with this group of guys, I am thrilled with the team speed and when we get on base we are going to take advantage of that.”

— Sports Staff Writer Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323.