Bel Air, Md. – No. 1 Harford's start to the 2019 Eastern District Championship did not go according to plan on Friday, as the Fighting Owls fell on the wrong side of a 14-2 decision against the No. 4 Monroe Mustangs.
Monroe relied on home runs to send Harford packing, scoring 10 of their 14 runs via the long ball. Harford strung six hits across five innings, scoring both runs off Mustang fielding errors.
Harford drops to 46-8 on the season and will be forced to win two games on Saturday and Sunday in order to secure an automatic bid to the NJCAA World Series. Monroe improves to 30-17.
SCORING SUMMARY: CLICK HERE
Game Notes
- Nolan Charlton led Harford with two hits, including Harford lone extra base hit.
- Thomas Hojnacki, Matthew Shilling and Spencer Smith each tallied one base knock.
- Mike Taylor (0.2 IP, 8 ER) falls to 7-2 on the year after the loss.
- Harford batters did not record an RBI for just the second time this season. They also did not steal a base for the first time since March 31.
- The 14-2 score line is the Fighting Owls largest margin of defeat this season.
Up Next
Harford will battled No. 2 Spartanburg Methodist in an elimination game on Saturday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m.
The Fighting Owls own a 1-2 record against the Pioneers since their first meeting back in 2014. Their last meeting took place during the 2016 Eastern District Tournament, when JP Vail's
walk-off lifted Harford past SMC in the bottom of the ninth.
