CATONSVILLE, Md. — Cole Durkan provided the winning blow yet another time during his Seawolves career, launching a two-run shot over the right-field fence in the top of the eighth inning, breaking a 4-4 deadlock and giving his squad a 6-5 win in Sunday's rubber game with UMBC at the league's southern-most member.
His fourth of the year, the senior outfielder took the first pitch he saw and deposited it over the wall, scoring
Evan Fox along with himself to make it 6-4 in the penultimate inning. The extra run was needed, as UMBC got one back in the ninth but
Josh O'Neill nailed down the final out to record his fifth win of the season.
He would go the final four innings, allowing one earned and striking out three after
Colton Book's five-inning start that saw two unearned runs cross the plate.
Matt Brown-Eiring was another star of the day, driving a first-inning, two-run single to start the scoring. He added a RBI double to left center that scored
Evan Giordano in the fifth to regain the visitors' advantage, totaling up a three-RBI day.
Giordano went a perfect 4-for-4 at the top of the Seawolves order, as eight of nine batters recorded a hit. The ninth,
Matt Miceli, didn't lack production, driving in a sixth-inning tally with a sacrifice fly.
STATS AND NOTES
- Durkan's fourth homer of the year is the ninth of his Seawolves career. Eight of his long balls have come in the last two seasons, with four in the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
- Giordano finished with a seven-hit weekend (7-for-11) after a four-hit day today. He also added four runs. It his his second, four-hit game of the season and 11th multi-knock outing. It also matches the most hits by a Seawolves player this season.
- In his first start since March 5, Book did not allow an earned run for the second start of his freshman campaign. His four strikeouts came within one of his career-best, while his five innings match his longest when starting a game this season. He dropped his ERA in league games to 2.11, which is lowest in the conference.
- O'Neill earned his fifth win of the year, improving his record to 5-3. That is the most for a Seawolves pitcher this season.
- Brown-Eiring's three RBI today brought him to 22 in league play this season, which is tied for second-most in the conference. His 1.109 OPS is also sixth in the league, while Giordano sits two spots higher with a 1.130.
- At 12-6, the Seawolves sit three games behind Maine for the top spot in the conference overall, but lead NJIT by two games in Division B.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"The guys did a terrific job of grinding out today's and Friday's games to earn a hard-fought series win. Individually, on offense, Evan giordano and
Matt Brown-Eiring had a terrific series. Defensively,
Shane Paradine and
Stanton Leuthner were standouts along with the starts we received from
Ben Fero,
Brandon Lashley and
Colton Book, respectively.
Josh O'Neill's final three innings today for the win also deserves individual recognition." - head coach
Matt Senk.
UP NEXT
A midweek contest awaits the Seawolves, as they trek north of the Long Island Sound to take on Fairfield at 3 p.m., on Wednesday afternoon.
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