Lopez Lights It Up at the Plate, Senators Send TBolts Packing With 7-6 Walk-Off In Waldorf
WALDORF, JUNE 16—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (2-8) squared off with the Southern Maryland Senators (7-4) last night in their first meeting of the season. The Thunderbolts were crushing home runs in batting practice, and carried heavy momentum into this match after their 20-0 win over Alexandria on Monday. The Thunderbolts outhit the Senators at North Point High School, but—much like their game against Olney on June 13—caught a couple of bad breaks in a tight 7-6 loss.
In the first inning, Caleb Sturtevant (Jr., Millersville) collided with the Senators second baseman Luke Nogalski (So., Penn) during Sturtevant’s sprint from first to second base. Nogalski fielded a ground ball that was hit right into Sturtevant’s base path, and it caused both players to clash. Both were shaken up, but were able to return to their respective dugouts after spending a few minutes on the ground. Neither returned to the contest after this inadvertent collision.
Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) was back in the lineup as a DH after missing the Thunderbolts’ last four games. In his first plate appearance, Lopez wasted no time by lashing a solo homer to left-center field. This was the third home run hit by a TBolt this season.
In the top of the third, Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg) pegged a single through the 5-6 hole to score the second run of the game. The TBolts then loaded the bases, which set up their highlight of the night. On the first pitch he saw, Lopez lifted another home run—this time, it was a grand slam over the left field fence. In the blink of an eye, the TBolts were out to a blistering 6-0 lead.
Jacob Seek (Jr., Chesapeake College) made his third start of the season, and was facing the team he played for in the past two summers. The southpaw struck out two batters swinging in the second, one in the third, and one more in the fourth. Along with his four strikeouts, Seek allowed four hits, and issued seven walks in 3.2 innings pitched.
In the fourth inning, the Senators stole home after Seek dropped a ball while walking back to the mound. After loading the bases with a wealthy amount of walks, center fielder Bud Coombs (So., Maryland) bashed a grand slam to dead center field. Silver Spring-Takoma surrendered their third grand slam this season after the Senators’ tit-for-tat homer. TBolts reliever EJ Youngling (So., Moravian) hit the mound and recorded the final out of this prolonged fourth inning. Through 3.1 innings, Youngling yielded two strikeouts, allowed one hit, and issued two walks.
The second half of the contest featured a valiant defensive effort by both teams. The TBolts loaded the bases yet again with one out in the fifth, but were sent down on a strikeout and popout. After hitting the the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth, Silver Spring-Takoma turned a 6-4-3 double play to escape trouble. However, the TBolts yet again got a taste of their own medicine by rolling into a 6-4-3 of their own in the sixth. Senators shortstop Chase Fulford (So., Binghamton) finally ended the filibustering with an RBI single to center. After trailing 6-0, Southern Maryland squared it up at 6-6.
To end the seventh, a Senators ground ball was beautifully dodged by third base umpire David Turbide, who watched the ball bounce between his outstretched legs. The chopper found its way to Jona Acosta (So., North Florida) at shortstop, who fired to Connor Frickey (Sr., Babson) for the final out.
In the top of the ninth inning, the TBolts failed to bring across a go-ahead run with the bases loaded. This set up shop for the Senators to end their six-run term. James Carlson (So., Youngstown State) led off the bottom of the ninth, and was already 2-3 with a walk. On a 1-0 count, Carlson crushed a high fly ball to left field. With Pegues tracking back to the short fence in left, Carlson watched as it sailed out for a sensational walk-off homer; Southern Maryland scored seven unanswered runs to avenge a 7-6 victory.
Overall, the Thunderbolts committed no errors on the day, and their pitching looked efficient barring a few manageable miscues. Six different TBolts had a hit last night, including Trent Lopez. The DH went 2-3 with two walks, and accounted for five of the Thunderbolts’ six runs.
“The pitchers were probably more prepared than me, but I just tried to hit the ball,” Lopez told Thunderbolts broadcaster Brian Alves after the game. “Our pitchers are really improving, and we’re not walking as much as we used to. We lost, but at least we lost on a hit; we didn’t lose on a walk. With the hitters, I’m extremely confident in what we’re doing. It’s really just about getting more reps to see more results.”
The Thunderbolts will get another rep tonight, this time against the Gaithersburg Giants (7-4) at Blair Stadium. It will be their fourth faceoff with the Giants this season, who are a perfect 3-0 against Silver Spring-Takoma this summer.