BEL AIR, Md. - The Harford baseball team (30-13, 15-6 MD JUCO) dropped a closely-contested home contest to first-place Cecil (27-13, 14-2 MD JUCO)on Thursday, 5-3. The Fighting Owls managed just three hits in the game, but had the tying run at the plate in the ninth.

Justin Gartner collected two of the team's three hits, including a leadoff double in the third and an RBI single in the sixth. The second baseman scored the team's first run on a Jordan Glover fielder's choice. Jon McAllister scored in the next at bat to tie the game at 2-2 on Norm Donkin's fielder's choice.

Cecil's Wandy Polanco belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth and the Seahawks would not look back. Carlos-Henri Ferre (3-2) went five innings in the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits.

The Fighting Owls travel to Hagerstown for a Division I doubleheader Saturday at noon.