Written by Erin Hughes

The Olney Cropdusters took an 11-3 win over the Metro South County Braves on Sunday afternoon in Olney. 

Cropdusters left fielder Andrew Kell (Salisbury) went 2-for-3 with two home runs – including a grand slam – four total runs, and six RBI to lead the game offensively. Right fielder Koy Swanson (Gaston) went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases on the afternoon. 

JW Kohlmeyer (VMI) and Franklin Gomez Jr. (Fairleigh Dickinson) drew back to back walks to lead off the game. A fielder’s choice to the third baseman erased Gomez but put Kohlmeyer on third and Charlie Brinkman (Liberty) on first. Tony DiChiara (Monmouth) knocked a single through the left side to score Kohlmeyer and give the Braves an early 1-0 lead. 

Donovan Whitfield (Norfolk State) went three up, three down in the bottom of the first with a swinging strikeout to end the frame.

Gavin Metrick (Towson) regained his composure in the second inning, sitting down all three batters with the help of an 8-3 double play.

Back to back doubles from Kohlmeyer and Gomez Jr. gave the Braves another run in the top of the third. A single from Brinkman put Gomez Jr. on third and Brinkman’s stolen base led to an error that allowed Gomez Jr. to score. Francuzenko singled and Brinkman moved to third before Francuzenko stole second to get into scoring position. Ryan Santangelo (Bryant) walked to load the bases, but a fielder’s choice turned double play ended the inning with the Braves now up 3-0.

RJ Cromartie (Notre Dame) singled and Kell and Luke Keefer (Maryland) walked to load the bases with no outs in the home half of the third. Whitfield fanned a batter, but Jimmy Kirk (Millersville) drew a walk to plate Cromartie. Caderyn Ahearn (Lehigh) dropped a two-RBI single into left field to score Kell and Keefer and tie the game at 3. 

Cropdusters lefty Gabe Beschloss (ECU) tossed a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, retiring the side on three straight strikeouts. The bottom of the inning saw Swanson single, Scott walk, and Cromatie get hit by a pitch to load the bases with no out. Kell crushed a grand slam to break the tie and put the Cropdusters ahead 7-3. Coleson Russell (Paul D Camp CC) struck out the next three batters to end the inning. 

A one-out walk to Kell put a runner on early for the Cropdusters in the home half of the sixth. After a flyout, Will Henson (VCU) singled and advanced to second as Kell moved to third. Kirk walked to load the bases and a walk to Ahearn brought Kell home. Henson scored on an error before Russell fanned that last batter to end the inning.

In the seventh, Cromartie reached second on an error before Kell hit his second home run of the day to extend the Cropdusters’ lead 11-3. The bases loaded once again, now with two outs, before Ben Cogar (Moravian) sat down the last batter swinging. 

Egan Lowery (Alabama) closed out the win with two scoreless innings on the mound. The Cropdusters have won two straight games, and eight of their last ten.