With the regular season coming to a close after July 21st, the Senators' game against the Cropdusters was a crucial one for Southern Maryland to win. However, that was not the case, as they fell to Olney 13-4.
Allen Miller (Shepherd), who usually comes out of the bullpen for the Senators, made the start for Southern Maryland. Within the first inning, Cade Walter hit a single, allowing him to get on base. Walter was able to work around the bases, stealing both second and third, before scoring after a sacrifice fly from Austin Stalker.
However, the Senators fired right back. Shortstop Nick Flores was able to get on base with a double during his first at-bat. Then after advancing from a pass ball, Flores was able to score after centerfielder Adam Troch hit a sacrifice fly.
The Senators were able to pick up where they left off during the bottom of the second inning. Third baseman Danny Surowiec hit a single during his first at-bat, and then managed to work his way home after a couple of errors.
It was the fourth inning that things began to get out of hand for Southern Maryland. With two men on base, Andrew Kell was able to hit a sacrifice fly to score Austin Stalker. Then Walker Zampella scored after Angel Santiago Cruz hit an RBI single. Soon after, Miller was pulled for Tyler Mitchell (Norfolk State), who usually closes things out in the ninth inning.
Mitchell tried to clean up things, but one more run scored for the Cropdusters, allowing them to take the 4-2 lead.
The Senators cut the deficit in the bottom fifth when Troch came around to score after Logan Tribble (Wofford College) hit an RBI single. Troch was able to come around to score again in the eighth inning. But from the sixth inning and beyond, the Cropdusters were able to put up two in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, and three in the ninth, leading them to the 13-4 win against the Senators.
With playoffs looming ahead, the last game of the season against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts will be an important one, as Southern Maryland just needs to do one thing: win.