Written by Mahaley Wise

On a hot mid-summer day the Senators and Cropdusters played an even more heated game. The Senators took an early lead but the Cropdusters fought their way back, overpowering their opponents. Ryan O’Bron (Indianapolis) gave an impressive performance for the Cropdusters, pitching the final five innings and locking in a 10-4 win. 

The Senators came out hot in the first inning, scoring two runs after working hard on the bases. A single by Adam Troch (Duke) put runners on the corners after Nick Flores (VCU) worked a walk. A sacrifice fly by Logan Tribble (Wofford) scored Flores for the first run of the inning. Another sacrifice fly by Danny Surowic (Boston College) sent Troch home. 

Back-to-back doubles by Walker Zampella (East Stroudsburg) and Austin Stalker (West Chester) got the first run for the Cropdusters in the second inning. It was a power surge of clutch hitting and sharp baserunning. Koy Swanson (Gaston College) came to the plate to strike a single that sent Stalker home and tied the game, 2-2.

The Senators were quick to break the tie in their at-bat in the second inning. Calvin Cook (Middle Tennessee State) worked a leadoff walk, followed by a single from Jack Gagen (Tusculum College). Cale Vinson (Middle Tennessee State) worked another walk to load the bases. A hard hit single into the center field gap by Flores sent Cook home. The Senators conquered the sacrifice fly balls with another one delivered by Tribble to put two runs on the board. The Senators took the lead back, giving the Cropdusters little time to enjoy their advantage.

But the Cropdusters battled back in the third, scoring four runs and putting them ahead of the Senators. Cade Walter (Jacksonville) started the inning with a walk and a stolen base to put a runner in scoring position. Zampella delivered a hard hit single to left field. Walter, who had leaped off of second base, made it home to score the run. Stalker hit a single to move Zampella to third, eager to score. 

With two men on and one out, Camden Hodges (Anne Arundel CC) came to bat. He read the field steadily and calculated for an opportunity to score. As the pitch came in, he swung his bat hard, making strong contact with the ball and sending it over the left field wall. He had made it look easy, scoring three runs at once and putting the Cropdusters ahead, 6-4.

In the fifth inning, the Cropdusters stayed aggressive as they advanced their lead with three extra runs. Hodges started the momentum after reaching first on a single. Then Rohne Klein (Utah) came to bat, taking the pitch over the center field wall. It was a no-doubter as he jogged around the bases coming home to embrace his teammates in a hug. Zakye Hawkins (Utah) hit a single later in the inning to bring in another run and put the Cropdusters further ahead of the Senators, 9-4.

In the sixth inning, The Cropdusters stayed hot with another home run by Zampella. A giant cheer erupted from the crowd who stood in disbelief at the third ball to exit the park. Zampella made his way around the bases finding the embrace of his teammates at home plate. More celebration ensued in the dugout as the Cropdusters could feel their own momentum overflowing. 

Cropdusters right-hander O’Born pitched the final five frames of the first game, keeping the Senators stalled to their early four runs. He walked off the mound in the seventh inning after giving up just five hits, two walks, and no runs. His team was ecstatic for the win that he helped secure against the aggressive Senators.