(Sugar Land, TX., Sep. 4, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (24-34) dropped the finale against the Sugar Land Skeeters (29-28) 3-2, the final time these teams will meet in the series finale.

Pitching had the upper hand early, as both teams went scoreless through two innings. The Skeeters were finally able to open up the scoring in the third on a solo homerun from Dickie Thon. They manufactured another run in the fourth, opeining up a 2-0 lead on Brian Grening (8-7). Grening walked Caleb Ramsey to lead off the inning, moving up to second on a Kevin Ahrens single. After a double play brought Grening within one out of escaping the jam, a two-out single from Bryan Pounds allowed Ramsey to score.

Mitch Talbot (8-3) was dominant on the hill for Sugar Land, as he continually shutdown the Blue Crabs offense to maintain the lead. Talbot allowed just four hits through six scoreless innings, until Southern Maryland put a run on the board in the seventh. After two quick outs started the inning, a solo shot from Cory Vaughn cut the deficit to just one run.

Sugar Land responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning, matching with a run of their own. Bryan Pounds got it started with a one-out double, putting himself in scoring position. A balk from Rob Carson moved Pounds to third, allowing him to score easily on an Albert Cordero single.

Now trailing 3-1, the Blue Crabs looked to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth of the Sugar Land bullpen. Julio DePaula came on and immediately allowed a single to Brian Bistagne to start the inning. A double play followed, before a two-out single from Jose Lozada kept the inning alive. Back-to-back singles followed, with Tucker Nathans driving in Lozada from second. DePaula forced a groundout from Michael Snyder in the next at-bat, stranding the tying run in scoring position on second.

The Skeeters turned the top of the ninth over to their closer Felipe Paulino (S,12), looking to clinch the series win. Paulino worked a 1-2-3 inning, picking up two strikeouts to finish off his third save of the series.

The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, September 5th for the series opener of a three-game series against the Somerset Patriots. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (11-3, 2.64) to the mound, looking to start the series with a win. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Tuesday at Regency Furniture Stadium.

For more information on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, or to reserve your seat today for any of the Blue Crabs upcoming home games, please visit our website at somdbluecrabs.com or call us at 301-638-9788.