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Pitching Leads the Way in Senators 9-0 Victory over Cropdusters
Three Senators pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over the Cropdusters.
Written by Jack Stashower | Photo by Maya Brichacek
The Southern Maryland Senators defeated the Olney Cropdusters 9-0 at First Responder Field in Olney, Maryland on Wednesday. The Senators improved to a league best 6-1 record on the young season.
The Senators won their last game on Monday, defeating the Gaithersburg Giants 9-3 at Regency Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The Cropdusters lost a 12-inning thriller on Tuesday against the DC Grays at home.
Logan Bingham (Middle Tennessee State) pitched brilliantly as the Senators starter, throwing five no-hit innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
“He pounded the zone, let the defense work, and he threw around 60 pitches in five innings,” Senators head coach Scott Middleton said after the game. “You can’t ask for a better performance than that.”
On top of Bingham’s solid performance, the Senators bats struck early. In the top of the second, Danny Surowiec (Boston College) hit his first home run of the season to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. Logan Tribble (Wofford) increased the lead to two on a sacrifice-fly, scoring MJ Phillips (Towson).
The Senators continued their offensive determination in the top of the second. A single from Adam Troch (Duke) brought home Lucas Grantham (Georgia State) and Dawson Smail (Xavier) to increase the lead to four. A fifth run was singled in by Steven Kraus (Binghamton).
The runs would continue to pile in for the Senators in the top of the fifth, with Tribble hitting another sacrifice-fly, scoring Phillips for a second time and increasing the lead to 6-0.
Troch continued his solid day at the plate, hitting his first home run of the season and increasing the lead to seven. He finished the day with three RBIs and four stolen bases.
“Adam’s fast, I mean extremely fast,” Middleton said of Troch. “He covers center field, can track down anything, and is always a great at bat.”
Later on in the sixth, an error by the third baseman brought home Phillips and Grantham to make the score 9-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bingham was replaced by Bruce Wadiak (Iona) and instantly got off on the same foot, striking out two of the first four hitters he faced and keeping the Cropdusters without a hit going into the bottom of the seventh.
Wadiak kept the no-hitter going with the assistance of a sliding catch by Tribble and a strikeout, keeping the chances of Senators history alive.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Cropdusters would finally end the no-hitter off of a double to left field by Ahmaad Duff (Alabama). Wadiak would redeem himself by striking out the next batter, ending his night with three shutout innings and four strikeouts.
The Cropdusters would load the bases with two outs, but Senators pitcher Kyle Hard (Iona) forced RJ Cromartie (Notre Dame) into a groundout to give the Senators a much deserved 9-0 win.
When asked about the team’s growth, Middleton praised his team’s connection, saying that the dugout has instantly connected in a short amount of time. On off days, the players meet up at the batting cages or the team’s practice field to hangout and improve their overall game. The Senators currently hold the league’s best record and are determined to get back to the league championship series.
The Cropdusters head to Shirley Povich Field with hopes to end the losing streak on Thursday against the Bethesda Big Train. The Senators look to remain hot going up against the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field.
