The Newburgh Nuclears made a habit last week of jumping on their opponents in the first inning.

They did it twice.

They jumped all over the Lloyd Clippers, scoring 10 runs in the first inning, but stalled after that, and then they scored six runs in the first inning of Thursday’s American Legion juniors baseball game on their way to a 14-1 win at the Town of Newburgh Little League Complex.

The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

“They did well,” Newburgh assistant coach Mark Casey said. “They swung the bat better, jumping on first-pitch fastballs a lot better. But I’m going to use the same cliché, pitching and defense wins games, and we had some timely hitting. It’s a good recipe for what we’ve been doing.”

The Nuclears batted around in the first inning as they took an early 6-0 lead. Logan Voltaire got them on the board with a bases-loaded two-run single, and Rudy Cherry chased another run home with a single of his own. Voltaire scored on a ground out and Dan Noviski drove in a run with a groundout, giving Newburgh a 5-0 lead.

J.J. McCoy drove home the Goldbacks’ sixth run of the inning before Kingston found their way out of the first inning.

However, the previous day’s performance still loomed large as the Nuclears scored 10 runs in the first inning of Wednesday’s win over the Clippers at Delano-Hitch Stadium. Then didn’t score again in a game that was also called after five innings by the 10-run rule.

Dylan Demaro had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Logan Voltaire had two hits, including a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Jake Cross had a hit and two RBIs. He also scored a run.

Michael Secor had Lloyd’s only hit.

However, the Nuclears didn’t want to go quiet again after the first.

“I was concerned today because we took infield/outfield and I got them in the dugout afterwards, and I said, ‘that was the worst infield-outfield I’ve seen today.’ I know it’s a hot day and they know they were playing a younger team. They’ve just got to stay focused, and we should be fine.”

The Tigers got their lone run on an error, and they added four runs in the third and four more in the fourth to shorten the game to five innings.

Dylan DeMaro went three innings for the Nuclears, allowing the unearned run. Jadin O’Neil and Joe DiNaso each pitched a scoreless inning.

Rudy Cherry pitched the first two innings of Wednesday’s game, while Gavin Rounds, Cabel swart and Alex Sanchez each pitched a scoreless inning.

“When we’re up nine or seven runs in the first inning, we’re not going stretch the guys out,” Casey said. “We’ll get somebody in there throwing for us here and there that normally doesn’t pitch, and we can save some arms that way.”

It’s been a strong start so far for the Nuclears, winning five of their first six games, including an early sweep over the Rockland Pirates.

“We’re good; we’re focused,” Casey said. “We know we’re going to face Rockland again in Districts and I know they’re going to come with a bigger, better and stronger team. We just have to stay focused, play our game and we’ll be fine.”