Written by Erin Hughes

The D.C. Grays took a commanding 14-4 victory over the Southern Maryland Senators on Saturday night in Woodbridge. 

Ryan Soong (WashU) had three stolen bases and Ryan Grace (Lafayette) launched a three-run home run in the victory. 

Grays righty Owen Basso (Lafayette) started the game with a 1-2-3 top of the first. Soong dropped a one out single into right field and stole second on the next batter to start the bottom of the inning. Tanner Wolpert (Franklin & Marshall) singled to put Soong on third, and Joe Marini (Catholic) hit a sacrifice fly to bring Soong home. Andy Rivera (Holy Family) knocked a double off the center field wall that scored Wolpert from first to give the Grays an early 2-0 lead.

The Grays had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the second and looked like a threat to score, but Senators southpaw Mark Loubier (Florida Atlantic) forced a flyout to right to end the frame.

The Senators also loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third, and Steven Kraus (Binghamton) drew his second walk of the game to plate Dawson Smail (Xavier). 

With runners on first and second in the top of the fourth, Nick Flores (VCU) grounded to Grays shortstop Joey Chitla (Wofford), and Chitla threw Jack Gagen (Tusculum) out at home to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Grace hit a one-out double to left-center field, and Ayden Ellis (Rutgers) moved him over to third on a fielder’s choice. Noel Rivera (Marist) pinch ran for Chitla after a walk and stole second to get both runners in scoring position. Soong singled to score Grace and put Noel Rivera on third. Soong quickly swiped second and Wolpert and Marini drew back to back walks to plate Noel Rivera. 

Andy Rivera dropped a broken bat infield single to score Soong and Wolpert. TJ Addonizio (Richmond) singled to shallow left field, allowing Marini to score and Andy Rivera to advance to third. Andy Rivera and Addonizio completed the double steal of home and second to score another run. Marc Quarrie (Wofford) walked before Grace laced a three-run home run down the left field line to cap off a nine run inning for the Grays. 

The Senators scored one run in the top of the fifth after a sacrifice fly from Kraus scored Adam Troch (Duke). Noel Rivera was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Soong as the Grays pulled ahead 12-2 in the home half of the inning.

A leadoff walk to Gagen and a wild pitch allowed a Senator to get into scoring position in the sixth. Smail used an infield single to move Gagen to third and a pinch hit single by Calvin Cook (MTSU) plated another run for the Senators. Cook stole second and Troch walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice scored Smail and erased Troch. Kraus walked to load the bases again but a fly out left the runners stranded as the Senators chipped away at the deficit.

Logan Quade (Mount Aloysius) pitched around a two out walk to Grace to post a scoreless sixth inning for the Senators.

Looking to threaten in the top of the seventh, the Senators had the bases loaded with two outs, but Drew Norton (Dickinson) entered in relief of Qira and forced Troch to hit into the shift and end the frame.

Soong walked and stole second to move into scoring position with one out in the bottom of the seventh. A fielder’s choice moved him to third and a double down the right field line by Marini scored him. Andy Rivera singled to plate Marini before Addonizio and Quarrie drew back to back walks to load the bases. The runners were stranded as the last batter was retired to end the curfew-shortened game.