BEL AIR, Md. – The Fighting Owls saw their second game woes continue on Saturday, dropping game two of a doubleheader with the Hagerstown Hawks, 4-3.
Harford hitters could not come with answers at the plate, as Hagerstown starter Ryan Delorbe took a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings. The Hawks had put together the only two runs of the game at that point off a single in the fourth.
A walk to start the six was follow by two strikeouts from Delorbe, but another free pass to
Zach Smith placed
Ethan Kiple at the plate. Hagerstown elected to leave their starter in the game, and Kiple made them pay by homering to deep center to give the Fighting Owls a 3-2 lead heading into the seventh.
Reliever
Hunter Bell found himself in early trouble to start the final frame, as a misplayed ball to center field put a runner on second with no outs. A walk to the next batter ended Bell's day as he was replaced by
Connor Blantz.
The redshirt freshman Blantz picked up a quick strikeout, but a controversial call saw the umpire award the Hawks' next hitter a free pass after he was allegedly hit by a pitch. Blantz grabbed another strikeout on the following batter, but an error with the bases loaded on Harford's shortstop scored two for Hagerstown before the third out was recorded.
The Fighting Owls were given a chance to answer in the bottom of the seventh, but two strikeouts and a flyout retired the side.
Harford is now 13-2-1 with the loss, while Hagerstown goes to 11-7.
Scoring Summary: Click Here
Box Score Highlights
- Ethan Kiple and Braydon Parr earned Harford's two hits of the contest
- Ajay Sczepkowksi stole three bases and reach first twice after being hit by errant pitches
- Blake Mayberry stole one base and walked twice
- Kiple's home run saves Harford's extra base hit streak, which now stands at 26 games
- Carter Heller earned a no decision after striking out three in four innings
- Hunter Bell (0-1) was stuck with the loss
Up Next
The Fighting Owls take five days off before facing Rowan – Cumberland at home on March 25.
