Waldorf, MD – In the opening game of the season, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs lost to the Lancaster Barnstormers 5-2. The Barnstormers shut down the Blue Crabs bats, only allowing 5 hits. They retired the first 10 Blue Crabs in order, and after a hit by Steve Lombardozzi and a double by Fred Lewis, retired another 12 in a row.
In the top of the second, the Barnstormers put two runs across after a walk, and back-to-back doubles. They scored again in the top of the fourth, when Kevin Ahrens muscled a ball out of the park over the left center field fence for a solo home run. They also got a run out of the inning when a single by Jeff Kobernus pushed across Michael Crouse. This made the score 4-0 heading into the fifth inning. In the sixth, Lancaster pushed another run off after beating out a double play with the bases loaded, and their run scored. The Blue Crabs found themselves in a 5-0 hole heading into the eighth inning.
In the eighth, Blue Crabs catcher Angel Flores turned on a fastball, and pulled it over the left field fence. This cut the lead to 5-1, and they pushed another run across on a double steal in the bottom of the ninth. With the tying run at the plate, Michael Snyder grounded out to the third baseman to end the game.
The Blue Crabs drop to 0-1 and will play Lancaster again Friday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m.