The Bowie Baysox suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat against the Akron RubberDucks at Prince George’s Stadium on Friday evening, evening their series at two games each. The loss for Bowie (16-14) was marked by missed opportunities as they went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times.
The game began as a tight pitcher’s duel, but the RubberDucks (20-11) managed to capitalize on their chances. Starting pitcher for Bowie, right-hander Brandon Young, took the loss after surrendering the first run in the fourth inning. After pitching 3.1 innings and striking out three, Young was charged with one run on three hits. His exit with a runner on second set the stage for Akron’s Joe Naranjo, who singled in a run against reliever Nick Richmond, putting Akron ahead early.
The RubberDucks extended their lead in the seventh inning when Petey Halpin hit a three-run homer off Kyle Brnovich, who had entered the game in the fifth inning. Despite striking out seven batters in four innings, Brnovich couldn’t contain Akron’s offense. His performance marked the third time in his last four outings he has struck out seven or more batters, though it was not enough to curb the RubberDucks’ momentum.
On the offensive side, the Baysox struggled to make their hits count. TT Bowens was a bright spot in the lineup, hitting two doubles and maintaining a .337 batting average, which ranks second in the Eastern League. Despite his efforts, the team’s inability to score with runners in scoring position was their undoing.
Akron’s pitchers effectively silenced Bowie’s bats throughout the night. Starter Doug Nikhazy struck out six over three innings, while relievers Bradley Hanner, Jack Leftwich—who earned the win—and Trey Benton combined for six scoreless innings, sealing the shutout victory for Akron.
The series continues with the Baysox looking to reclaim their footing in a rematch scheduled for Saturday at 6:35 pm. Seth Johnson, still seeking his first win of the season, will start for Bowie against Akron’s Tommy Mace, who holds a 3-1 record with a 2.20 ERA.
