On July 5, the doubleheader between the Southern Maryland Senators and the DC Grays turned out to be quite the interesting two seven-inning game stretch. With the first game ending 4-3 in the Grays' favor and the second ending 1-0 in the Senators ' favor, it wasn't just the close-scoring affairs that made these games unique. 

 

In game one, the Grays got on the board first, scoring two runs on a Tyler Wiltsey single. However, the Senators responded right away.

 

After reaching base via a walk, Adam Troch (Duke) came around to score when Jax Nichols (Motlow State CC) hit a sacrifice fly to center field. During the following at-bat, Logan Tribble (Wofford) scored on an error by the Grays’ catcher. 

 

With the game tied, the Grays managed to tack on one more run in the third to take the lead. The score would remain the same throughout the fourth. 

 

In the top of the fifth, it seemed that the Senators scored one run from a Dawson Smail (Xavier) single. However, after some investigation by the umpires, it was determined that an illegal bat had been used, and the Senators' run was taken off the board.

 

The Grays would get the next two batters out, keeping the Senators scoreless.

 

Nonetheless, the Senators scored one run in the next inning to officially tie the game at three. Tribble hit a sacrifice fly that scored Nick Flores (VCU) after the shortstop reached base on a single.

 

After coming in to pitch in the fifth inning, Bryce Harder (Wofford) kept the Grays scoreless in the sixth, but in the seventh, after issuing a lead-off walk, the Grays walked off the game, winning 4-3.

 

The second game of the doubleheader was just as odd as the previous one. With the Senators hosting the game and being considered the home team, they managed to pull out a 1-0 win. 

 

Pitching for the Senators was excellent. Nick Wimberly (Florida Atlantic) pitched an exceptional six innings, only allowing one hit and one walk and striking out eight. 

 

He held the Grays scoreless, which allowed the Senators only to need one run to earn the win. In fact, the Senators did not even record one hit during the entire game. They manufactured their one run in the fourth inning when Danny Surowiec (Boston College) earned a walk and made his way around the bases from a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher. That put Surowiec on third and in the optimal position when Nichols hit a deep fly ball that served as a sacrifice fly, providing the Senators with their only run.

 

 Jace Cunnane (Towson) came in the middle of the seventh to shut things down for the Grays, which granted him the save.

 

The Senators stay on the road as they face the Gaithersburg Giants on July 6th, looking to remain in the top spot of the South Division.