ACUSHNET - The unbeaten South Attleboro American Legion baseball team used effective pitching and hitting to defeat Taunton II, 12-2, in a District 9 contest on Saturday afternoon.

In his second start with Post 312, Wheaton College standout Nick Kostaras needed just 68 pitches to get through six innings before the game was called because of the mercy rule. He surrendered two earned runs and four hits, while striking out six batters and walking three to improve to 2-0 on the season.

South Attleboro took a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The team increased its advantage to 7-0 following a five-run uprising in the bottom of the third. Post 312 added another run in the fourth to make it 8-0 before Taunton finally got on the board with two runs in the top of the fifth.

South Attleboro scored another run in the fifth and three more in the sixth before the game was called because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Post 312 pounded out 15 hits in the game with Ryan Lee leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance that included two singles, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Lee cracked a three-run homer in the third for South Attleboro. Lucas Gagne went 3-for-3 in the game with three singles, while Greg Najarian was 2-for-2 with two singles and two RBI.

Greg Hopkins also went 2-for-3 with a single, double, two RBI and two runs scored.

South Attleboro improved to 8-0-1 with the win. The team will play two games today.

First, Post 312 will host Shields of Warwick, R.I. in a non-league game at 10 a.m. South Attleboro will then travel down to Fall River to face Post 314 in a District 9 contest at Chew Park at 7:30 p.m.