Blue Sox surge in ABL

The Sydney Blue Sox have surged into third on the Australian Baseball League ladder, becoming the first team this season to win a series against the Canberra Cavalry.

Competition remains tight for the three playoff places at the halfway stage with the Cavalry leading from the Brisbane Bandits.

Hosting the Cavalry (19-12) in a rivalry series, the Blue Sox (15-15) took the series opener 8-0 behind a complete-game shutout effort by starting pitcher and Alex Balog (5-2, 1.35), who allowed just three hits in the win.

Veteran Josh Dean drove in four runs as Sydney held on to beat Canberra 11-7 in a back-and-forth battle in game two.

Rhys Hoskins and Tyler Bortnick drove in two runs apiece to lead Sydney to a 6-1 victory in the series' third game.

Brisbane (15-13) won the club's second series of the year over the Perth Heat (15-17).

Justin Williams led the Bandits to an 8-4 win in the series opener, hitting his fifth home run of the season.

The teams split a doubleheader the next day, with Allan de San Miguel homering twice in the Heat's 2-0 win in the first game.

Mitch Nilsson drove in three runs for Brisbane in the nightcap, which the Bandits won 5-3.

Maxx Tissenbaum hit a two-run home run to lead Brisbane to an 8-2 win in the series finale.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Aces (12-20) split a four-game homestand with the Adelaide Bite (15-16).

The Bite bounced back in the finale, with Kyle Petty hitting his league-leading 11th home run to lead Adelaide to a 2-1 win and the series split.