Written by Erin Hughes

The Southern Maryland Senators sealed their CRSCBL Semifinal berth with a 3-2 walk-off win over the D.C. Grays on Wednesday night in Woodbridge. 

When asked about how it feels to clinch a spot in the semifinals, Senators head coach Scott Middleton said, “It was a battle. The D.C. Grays, [head coach Jack Besser] and his coaching staff, they have done an amazing job this year - they’re a tough team. I’m proud of the boys. We’re having some fun and we’ll see what happens against the Big Train.” 

Both pitchers allowed just one baserunner in the first inning and Senators righty Nick Wimberly (Florida Atlantic) continued the momentum as he went three up, three down in the top of the second.

Chet Bowling (Winthrop) led off the home half of the inning with a double down the left field line. A one-out walk to Carter Groen (UConn) and a single by Jax Nichols (Motlow State CC) loaded the bases for the Senators. Kimani Davis (Xavier-Louisiana) fanned a batter before Bowling scored on a passed ball for the lone run of the inning, giving the Senators a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) was hit by a pitch to get one base, but Nichols caught him stealing during the next batter. Ayden Ellis (Rutgers) replaced Wiltsey on the basepaths after drawing a walk before Joe Marini (Catholic U) knocked a double into right field to put Ellis on third. Ryan Soong (WashU) walked to load the bases and Tanner Wolpert (Franklin & Marshall) used a sacrifice fly to score Ellis, evening the score at 1-1.

In the bottom of the third, Adam Troch (Duke) laced a leadoff double into left field and quickly stole third. Logan Tribble (Wofford) walked, and Steven Kraus (Binghamton) singled to plate Troch for a 2-1 Senators. Davis retired the next two batters before Groen singled to right field. Tribble tried to go home on the play, but Grays right fielder Andy Rivera (Holy Family) threw him out as Tribble somersaulted over catcher Ellis.

Colin Casey (Randolph Macon) entered in relief for the Grays in the bottom of the fifth and tossed a 1-2-3 inning to send his offense back to the plate.

Andy Rivera grabbed an infield single to start off the top of the sixth and stole second base soon after. Jack McMullan (Liberty) hit a bloop single into right field to put Andy Rivera on third. After Diego Barrett (North Carolina A&T) fanned a batter, Andy Rivera scored on a wild pitch to tie the game once again, 2-2. Wiltsey joined McMullan on base after drawing a walk, but Barrett left them both stranded when he struck the last batter out swinging.

The next few innings went by without more than two baserunners in a half inning. Casey and  Mason Potter (Hood College) held it down for the Grays, combining for 4.1 innings with one run and one hit allowed. Michael Walsh (VCU) entered in relief of Barrett in the sixth and only allowed two hits in his 2.1 innings pitched, including retiring three of four batters faced in the top of the ninth. 

Before the home half of the inning, Middleton said, “we all got together and [knew] we had our nine, one and two batters up, and we had a game plan, ‘if this person gets on, we’re going to do this, this, and this.’ Well, plans never work out, and my man [Logan Tribble] - I think he’s got the second best average in the league - came through and he had a shot to bring in Flores. [Even though] the plan didn’t work out, we got the run anyway.”

With one out on the board in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Flores (VCU) was hit by a pitch to put a runner on base for the Senators. The Grays switched pitchers and got a second flyout before Tribble smacked a double into left field to score Flores and secure the walk-off win, 3-2. 

Tribble holds a special place in Middleton’s heart and team. When asked about his outfield, he said, “I love that kid to death. Last year, when he was on the team, I knew there was something special - I wanted him back and I talked to his coaches. He’s a hard worker, he’s going to battle. He’ll do anything I need him to do, and he does all the little things right - not just hit for power, but also lay down a bunt for base hits, he’ll hit a sac fly.”

Middleton added, “His coaches at Wofford have done an amazing job with that young man…So, kudos to Tribble, he’s having a hell of a year.”

Middleton said that the momentum today really came from the Senators’ pitching staff. “Our pitching did outstanding today. [The Grays] threw three lefties against us and one righty - they’ve got good pitching.” 

He continued that, while the pitchers got the game done on the mound, he needed to see more from his offense. “We’ve got to start being a little bit more aggressive. Our hitting was not the greatest today…but when we needed it, it was there. But, we have to really do a better job, we have to have better approaches at the plate if we’re going to advance.” 

The Senators will take on the Bethesda Big Train in the LCS Semifinals, a best of three series, starting on Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. in Bethesda.