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WALDORF, Md. — The Blue Crabs picked up two huge wins on Saturday as they continue their push towards the postseason. With a Long Island win on Saturday, the Blue Crabs need a win or a Long Island loss on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot.

In the doubleheader sweep, Jordan Howard came up big in the later innings of game one while Mat Latos (S, 23, 24) shut the door on both game one and game two. 

The first game was a back-and-forth affair as Blake Bivens got the ball and provided four innings of work for the Blue Crabs while giving up three Lexington Legends runs. The offense in game one came up big when it was needed the most.

A two-spot in the top of the fourth gave Lexington a 3-1 lead, but the Blue Crabs were able to follow it up with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the sixth inning, Denis Phipps hit his second home run (2) of the game and things didn’t look good for the Blue Crabs, but they responded. Yet again, with a Jordan Howard home run (8) which would end up propelling Southern Maryland to a game one victory. 

In game two, the Blue Crabs had Adrian Cook on the mound. Cook, who was a recent acquisition made his first start for Southern Maryland and was dominant. The Crabs right-hander went four innings and gave up just one run. It was a tight pitcher’s duel that saw Southern Maryland win despite scoring just two runs.

A Matt Hibbert sacrifice fly would put the Blue Crabs ahead and give Mat Latos the opportunity to get his second save of the day. Dalton Geekie started the ninth, but with runners on first and second Stan Cliburn made the move to his closer who shut things down despite finding himself with runners at second and third with only one out later in the innings.

Governor Larry Hogan’s grandson who threw out one of the first pitches at the second game.

Latos picked up save number twenty-four and is now 24/25 in save opportunities on the season. 

The Blue Crabs will face Lexington in their final regular season game on Sunday at 2:00 P.M.

Southern Maryland’s State Senator Jack Bailey stopped by the game as well.

About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Blue Crabs, set to kick off their 13th season of baseball, call Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland home.  For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information. 

To purchase single-game tickets, click here.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League is the first Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. ALPB has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing 42 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks over its 24-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.