BEL AIR - The Harford Fighting Owls opened their home baseball season by hosting a doubleheader with the Southern Maryland Hawks. The Harford offense scored early and often in game 1.
Jesse Jaconski ignited the offense with a towering 2-run homer in the first inning. It was his first homerun of the young season. In the 2nd inning, the offensive power continued as the Fighting Owls put up 9 runs in the inning. Southern Maryland could not generate any offense as
Joey Colucci dominated with 3 innings of nearly perfect pitching. Colucci gave up only one hit and struck out 5 batters.
The chilly March weather did not cool the Harford bats. In the third inning, Keany Cowley hit a 3-run homerun in his first collegiate at-bat. The blast extended the Fighting Owl lead to 18-0.
Jackson Shollenberger finished off the scoring barrage with a 2-run homer in the 4th inning. The Hawks jumped on the board with a solo homerrun by Jake Padro in the 5th inning. Dominc Williams pitched the final two innings as Harford went on to win 20-1.
In game 2, the offensive scoring continued for Harford but it was Southern Maryland who would strike first. The Hawks would score 2 runs in the first after Harford starter,
David Catanese, struggled with some control issues. Harford fought back in their half of the inning with
Ehi Okojie's grand slam homerun. Tyree Claxton's homerun in the 2nd inning cut into the Harford lead after two innings, 5-4. The Fighting Owls exploded with 8 runs in the 4th inning to end any hopes of a Hawk comeback.
Logan Houser and
Christian Stevens pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing one run while striking out 5.
Up next, the Fighting Owls will host CCBC-Essex on Sunday, March 3rd at 3pm and 5pm. This doubleheader is a newly added game due to weather and schedule changes.
