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Grays Defeat Cropdusters for Third Win
By Courtney Larrimore
On Friday evening, the D.C. Grays downed the Cropdusters 4-1 at Prince George's Community College.
The game started strong for the Cropdusters with three hits that ultimately scored Josh Reinhold (Christopher Newport). But despite Koy Swanson (Maryland) stealing second to put him in scoring position, a pop out ended the frame 1-0 in favor of the Cropdusters.
The bottom of the first inning started just as promising for the Grays with two consecutive walks to put Matt Colella (Lafayette) in scoring position, but after two strikeouts, a groundout downed the Grays' chance at tying the game at the end of the first inning.
Neither team let up another run till the bottom of the fourth, when the Grays tied the game on a bases-loaded walk to Elias Owens (Washington & Jefferson), which scored Joey Wilga (Richmond).
The Grays had the chance at another run with bases still loaded, but on a full count, Anthony Ruocco (Winthrop) struck out, leaving the three stranded on base and the score tied at 1-1.
The following two innings remained scoreless. The Grays’ half of the fifth started with a strikeout, before the Cropdusters walked two batters. But they then ended the inning for the Grays with a 5-4-3 double play.
After being unable to find a lead for seven innings, the Grays mustered up the runs they needed in the seventh to take the game from the Cropdusters.
Owens was hit by a pitch and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. Patrick Niehus (Gardner-Webb) and Reed were also then consecutively hit by pitches to load the bases. Owens then scored after Wilga sent a single to center field.
After that, Michael Lavanaga's (College of William and Mary) double scored Niehus and Reed to give the Grays the 4-1 advantage.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Cropdusters almost rallied in the ninth. A Reinhold double to center field landed him on second, and a single by Jimmy Kirk (Millersville) advanced him on third. But a fly out and a ground out ended the game 4-1 in favor of the Grays.
The Grays will continue at Prince George's Community College at 5 p.m. on Saturday against the Bethesda Big Train. The Cropdusters will return home to First Responder Field for a rematch against the Senators on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
