The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs lost their series opener to the Gastonia Ghost Peppers by a final score of 8-4 after 11 innings.
The Crabs struck first in the third inning when Brett Barrera singled home Southern Maryland’s first run to make it 1-0.
Gastonia answered with a pair in the fifth and seventh innings to take a 4-1 lead. Southern Maryland nabbed two back in the eighth after Pearce Howard was hit by a pitch with one out. Barrera then reached on an error by Cole Roederer in left field that allowed Howard to score to make it 4-2. The Crabs scored another on a Alejandro de Aza RBI single.
Southern Maryland tied the game in the ninth on a Jackson Loftin RBI fielder’s choice following a leadoff double by Sam Dexter.
Tied 4-4 heading into extra innings, neither team scored in the tenth. The Ghost Peppers tallied four runs in the 11th to take an 8-4 lead and close out the ballgame.
Southern Maryland falls to 50-49 overall and 14-22 in the second half. The Crabs will take on the Ghost Peppers on Wednesday night with first pitch at 6:35 p.m.