Using a seven-run fifth inning to propel them to a 10 - 7 victory, Bridgeport closed out the three-game sweep against Southern Maryland before a crowd of 3,969 on a sun-splashed day Sunday at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, MD. The three consecutive losses for the Blue Crabs is a season-high.

For the third game in a row, the Bluefish used a combination of solid starting pitching and timely-hitting to get the win. Starter and former Blue Crab Dan Reichert allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work.

Offensively, every Bluefish contributed. After manufacturing their runs in the first and the fourth, Bridgeport used a double, a triple and five singles to fuel their seven-run explosion in the top of the fifth inning. At one point in the fifth, Bridgeport had seven consecutive batters reach base safely.

Outfielder Tyrone Pendergrass paced the Bluefish attack with three RBI, while pitcher-turned-designated hitter Rick Asadoorian drove in two runs.

The Blue Crabs’ batters, who came into the game with an Atlantic League best .282 team batting average, were unable to get a hit when it counted the most. After rallying from seven runs down, the Blue Crabs brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but pinch-hitter Eric Crozier struck out to end the game.

Octavio Martinez led the Blue Crabs with three RBI, and James Shanks extended his team-leading hitting streak to 10 games. Also, in his season-debut, rightfielder John Ramistella earned two walks and scored two runs.

Southern Maryland starter Kenny Baugh (1-2, 6.14) surrendered eight earned runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings.

The Blue Crabs return to action tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. to face the York Revolution in the first game of a four-game series. Probable starters are right-handers Corey Thurman for York, and Ryan Bicondoa for Southern Maryland.