The Baysox briefly reclaimed the lead in the top of the tenth. Willems, who went 3-for-5 on the day, delivered a clutch two-out RBI single against Austin Murr, who had moved from first base to pitcher due to Erie’s depleted bullpen.
However, the SeaWolves had the final say in the bottom of the frame. Murr, now playing both ways, drilled a game-tying double off Bowie reliever Keagan Gillies to score Patrick Lee. As Murr attempted to stretch his hit into a triple, an errant throw by Bencosme eluded third baseman Ryan Higgins, allowing Murr to scamper home with the winning run.
The loss dropped Gillies to 1-3 on the season, while Murr earned an unconventional pitching victory, improving to 1-0.
Despite the disappointing finish, several Baysox players showed promise throughout the season. Beavers concluded his first full Double-A campaign with a .241 batting average, 15 home runs, and 50 RBIs. Willems excelled in the final series against Erie, going 10-for-21 with a home run and eight RBIs.
The Baysox will look to regroup and improve in 2025. Their home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, against these same Erie SeaWolves at Prince George’s Stadium. The complete 2025 schedule, including road games, game times, and promotional events, will be released at a later date.
As the offseason begins, Bowie’s front office and coaching staff will undoubtedly analyze the team’s performance and work on developing strategies to compete more effectively in the Eastern League next year. The Orioles organization will also be keeping a close eye on the progress of their top prospects as they continue their journey through the minor league system.
