Strong Start Not Enough For Prince George’s Against Catonsville

After a couple of needed recovery days for the Prince George's Community College baseball team following an injury filled contest against Bucks County on Saturday, the Owls traveled to CCBC Catonsville to take on the Cardinals in a single 9-inning game on Tuesday. Despite putting up 10 runs, Prince George's came up short 12-10 after a 3-run ninth inning rally attempt. The loss drops Prince George's to 6-17 on the year and 2-11 in Maryland JUCO. 

The Owls bats came out swinging as Prince George's nearly batted around, reaching the eight spot before Catonsville recorded the third out as the Owls built an early 3-0 lead. Catonsville was able to respond with a single run in the first before Prince George's took another 3-run lead in the second after a Miles LeVere single sent Elias Nurideen home. The Cardinals again responded, this time with a 3-run second inning their selves to tie the score at 4 heading into the third.

Prince George's went cold in innings three and four while Catonsville managed to pick up two more runs as they grabbed a 6-4 lead. The Owls picked things up offensively in the fifth inning when a Jose Alvarez double sent home two runs to tie the game at 6 before a Jaren Partman sacrifice fly gave the Owls a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. Bennie Spady replaced Ryan Ahalt on the mound to begin the bottom and pitched two shutout innings before being replaced by Tanner Perkes in the seventh inning with runners on first and second. Catonsville capitalized as the Cardinals scored four runs and added two more in the eighth to take control, 12-7.

The Owls picked things up offensively in the ninth needing 5 runs to force extra innings with Dante Fairchild hitting a two-run homer and Tevin Anderson later scoring on a wild pitch to bring the Owls within two. Elias Nurideen stepped up to the plate as the tying run with a man on second base and delivered a shot down the left line but it was quickly grabbed by the Cardinals third baseman for a lineout, ending the Owls rally. 

Field conditions due to inclement weather made it difficult to field the ball and resulted in plenty of errors for both teams by the end with Catonsville committing five while Prince George's had four. The Owls will get a chance to redeem themselves on Thursday when the Cardinals travel to Largo for another 9-inning game. First pitch is set for 3:30 PM, weather permitting.