Written by Mahaley Wise

After winning the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, Cropdusters head coach Adam Leader told his team “to bring the same energy…We talked about the second group just brining the same energy as the first group.” With another game ahead both the Cropdusters and the visiting Metro South County Braves were hoping to capture the win. The Cropdusters edged out the Braves in yet another back-and-forth nail-biter. 

The Braves found themselves in a bases-loaded jam in the third inning after a walk, a single, and a hit-by-pitch, bringing designated hitter Carter Richey (VCU) to the plate. Richey was given little temptation to hit the ball and walked, starting up the ring of runners to move around the bases. The Cropdusters now led 1-0. 

The Cropdusters stuck to their proven strategy, using small ball tactics to squeeze out an extra run in the fourth inning. Jaden Knight (Notre Dame) and Cadeyrn Ahearn (Lehigh) led the inning with back-to-back walks. Brian Scott (Frostburg State) laid down a bunt to advance the two runners. A wild pitch allowed Knight to score and tack on another run for the Cropdusters, making the score 2-0.

In the same fashion as the earlier game, the Braves tied things up in the fifth. Trent Adelman (VCU) hit a lead-off triple to the left field wall, slipping away from the Cropdusters' left fielder. Michael Lavanga (Harford CC) followed walked and stole a base to put two runners in scoring position, giving JW Kohlmeyer (VMI) a good opportunity to make up the runs. He did the job, smacking a single to send Adleman and Lavanga home and tie the score. 

But the Cropdusters took back the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, beginning with a walk by Austin Stalker (West Chester). 

“I had faith in our pitchers. I knew they were going to keep us in the game. I knew the hitting would turn around too and they did a great job,” Leader said.

Tyler Cook (Troy University) followed with a hit by pitch, and another walk to Knight loaded the bases. Ahearn brought two runners home on a single to give the Cropdusters the lead, 4-2. The Cropdusters were hoping they had broken the streak of back-and-forth play between the teams in this doubleheader.

In the sixth inning, the Cropdusters tacked on an extra insurance run as they went to face the Braves one last time. With two outs, Zakye Hawkins (Utah) started the momentum with a double. Stalker followed up with a clutch single, driving in Hawkins for an insurance run that sealed the win over the Braves, 5-2.

The Cropdusters defense stayed strong as they knocked out the first three batters in the seventh and final inning. The last batter went out swinging against the Cropdusters pitcher, Zachary Harris (Messiah College).  

When asked how he felt about both wins tonight Leader said, “It can’t get any better than that, winning two games in one night… I just want to see them getting better and better…This is two steps up the ladder and we have a lot left in the season."