SUMTER, S.C. - The Harford baseball team (1-1) opened the 2015 season where its 2014 season came to an end, at the site of last year's NJCAA District Tournament. The Fighting Owls won the opener, 8-4, against Florida State-Jacksonville (3-13) but lost the nightcap against USC Sumter (10-6), 9-6.

The Fighting Owl offense produced 14 runs on their first day outside and held a 6-2 advantage in the fifth inning against the Fire Ants. But Sumter scored the game's final seven runs, including three in the bottom of the sixth on just one hit to escape with the win.

Harford 8, FSC-Jacksonville 4
Dalton Reed (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, tossing five innings of six-hit ball in the team's first game of the year. He allowed four runs, three earned, while striking out one.

A trio of freshmen made strong debuts at the plate for Harford. Shortstop Dominic DiSabatino went 2-for-4 and scored twice while outfielders Tanner Forry and Ben Bomberger both knocked in a pair of runs.

Sophomores Brandon Smith and CJ Young both picked up their first hits of the year. Smith went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored while Young went 1-for-4.

USC Sumter 9, Harford 6
The Fighting Owls fell behind 2-0 in the first but scored six-straight to take the lead late. Sophomore Brett Hash clubbed a two-run double in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-2, and the Fighting Owls looked like they were going to open the season with a pair of wins. The Harford bullpen faltered, however, allowing four runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth to drop the contest.

In the decisive sixth, the Fire Ants loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a fielding error and scored the go-ahead run on a bases loaded free pass. The lone hit of the inning was a one-run single and USC touched the plate one final time with a sacrifice fly.

Freshman outfielder Colby Dean went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

The Fighting Owls continue the four-game, two-day trip on Sunday with a pair against the Fire Ants, beginning at 10 a.m.
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