HAGERSTOWN, Md. - A three-run eighth spoiled Harford's first game of the day, as the No. 3 Monroe Mustangs topped the No. 4 Fighting Owls 4-1, Saturday afternoon inside the Hagerstown Municipal Stadium.

Pitching ruled early and often, as Harford and Monroe combined for just nine hits while striking out 17 times in nine innings. Starting pitcher Carter Heller (4 IP, 4 K's) held the line early for the Fighting Owls, while Caleb Musco (3 IP, 4 K's) gassed passed the Mustangs in the middle innings.

A solo home run by Reyce Curnane put the Fighting Owls ahead in the fifth. Monroe matched with back-to-back doubles that plated one in the fifth, leaving the score at 1-1 until the bottom of the eighth.

A walk followed by a two-base wild pitch gave Monroe life early in the inning. Two more walks loaded the bases for the Mustangs, then a hard hit single through the left side of the infield scored two to give them the lead. An outstanding defensive stop by Harford shortstop Braydon Parr saw the Fighting Owls turn two on the next play, but Monroe's runner on third managed to come home for a 4-1 lead.

Curnane would open the ninth at the dish, crushing a double to center for the first hit of the inning. Andrew Sicinski followed with a laser through the infield for a single that advanced Curnane to third.

Things went sideways for Harford after that, as a strikeout earned Monroe the first out of the inning. A line drive from Jeremiah Guzman seemed like it had a chance, but the Mustang third baseman snagged it out of the air and tossed it over to first for a double play that ended the game.

The Fighting Owls are now 26-10-1 after the loss.

Scoring Summary: Click Here

Up Next
Harford is forced to once again face Potomac State in an elimination game on Saturday at 6 p.m.