Box Score ARNOLD, Md. -- Harford baseball fell to Anne Arundel, 2-1 on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the eleventh inning. The game was dominated by pitching, with AJ Powell leading the way for the Fighting Owls with a dominant performance.
 
Tough luck played a role in Harford (10-12-1, 4-3 MD JUCO) falling in walk-off fashion. With one out in the bottom of the 11th and the bases loaded, Dallas Ducote hit a fly ball to right field deep enough to score Connor Staihr from third base. On the play, Tyler Napierala's throw from right field looked to be on line and in time enough to make it a close play at the plate. But the ball took a hop and hit Ducote's bat, deflecting away from catcher Rob Koski, denying him any chance at fielding the ball and making the tag to deny the go-ahead run.
 
It was a somewhat fitting ending to what played out as an unorthodox half inning of baseball. After the first batter made the first out of the inning on a simple groundout to second base, Anne Arundel (8-6, 4-3 MD JUCO) loaded the bases. Ben Collincini hit back-to-back batters and walked another before being lifted for James English with the bases loaded.
 
English fell behind 2-0 to Ducote, prompting Harford head coach Tom Eller to make a strategic move. He substituted Joe Sheeran for Jake Molison, playing Sheeran as a fifth infielder and dropping an outfielder. Napierala and Cody Brittain played in the right and left centerfield gaps respectively. Ducote would drive the very next pitch into the outfield for the game-winning sacrifice fly.
 
For Harford, the loss overshadowed a brilliant performance on the mound by Powell. After a disappointing start against Dundalk last week, he had everything working on the mound today. Powell's command was excellent throughout nine innings. He threw 115 pitches (79 strikes), getting ahead of hitters with 24 first pitch strikes out of 35 batters. It resulted in him allowing one run on four hits and a walk. His 12 strikeouts topped Nick Economos' 11 strikeout performance against Delaware County last week.
 
For the Fighting Owls hitters, the struggle continued. As a team, Harford only managed four hits on the day. They had a chance to break the game open in the first inning when the bases were loaded with one out but only one run came out of it on Koski's RBI fielder's choice. It would turn out to be the only run Harford would score in the game.
 
The bases loaded first inning would also turn out to be the only time Harford would truly threaten to score on Ann e Arundel. For as good as Powell was for Harford, left-hander Jordan MacKean was nearly his equal. He gave up just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out six. He kept Harford hitters off balance for eight innings.
 
Patrick Baker would replace MacKean on the hill for the Pioneers and would continue the theme of dominant pitching. He struck out seven Harford batters in just three innings of work, using a high velocity fastball.
 
In Baker's first inning of work, Harford created an opportunity to push across the potential go-ahead run. Craig Joseph worked a two-out walk in the top of the ninth. Koski followed with a single to right field that moved Casey Plunket, who pinch ran for Joseph, to third base. Dalton Weeks had the game on his bat but swung through a 3-2 fastball to end the inning
 
Harford will be in action again on Friday when they face off against Monroe (N.Y.) for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.