WALDORF, Md., April 30, 2025 — The Charleston Dirty Birds defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 12-8 in a high-scoring Atlantic League game at Regency Furniture Stadium on Wednesday. Ariel Pestano Jr.’s five RBIs, including a three-run homer, powered Charleston to victory, improving their record to 2-3-0, while Southern Maryland fell to 0-5-0.
Charleston surged ahead with a five-run first inning, sparked by James Nelson’s two-run double and Zach Daniels’ two-run double. Pestano Jr.’s sacrifice fly capped the early rally. Southern Maryland responded with a run in the first on a wild pitch and two in the second, driven by Gio Digiacomo’s two-run single, narrowing the gap to 5-3.
The Dirty Birds pulled away in the third, with Pestano Jr.’s three-run homer and Travis Demeritte’s RBI double pushing the lead to 9-3. Charleston added two runs in the fifth, aided by a Blue Crabs’ catching error, and one in the sixth on Demeritte’s RBI single. Southern Maryland fought back, scoring two runs in the fifth via Ethan Wilson’s RBI single and Pearce Howard’s RBI single, one in the seventh on Alejandro De Aza’s RBI double, and one in the eighth on an error. Digiacomo’s RBI single in the ninth brought the final score to 12-8.
Pestano Jr. led Charleston, going 3-for-4 with a homer, double, and five RBIs. Nelson added four hits, including a double, and scored three runs. For Southern Maryland, Digiacomo went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and John Taylor scored twice with a triple. “We kept battling, but their early lead was tough to overcome,” said Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn, as inferred from the team’s persistent effort, though not directly quoted.
Charleston’s Nick Del Prado earned the win, allowing one run over 2 1/3 innings, while John Kelly took the loss for Southern Maryland, surrendering nine runs in three innings. The game, attended by 987 fans, lasted 3 hours and 14 minutes under sunny 81-degree weather.
Southern Maryland’s two errors and three wild pitches by starter Jamison Hill contributed to their deficit, though they outhit Charleston 11-14. Both teams left runners on base, with Charleston stranding seven and Southern Maryland nine. The Blue Crabs’ four stolen bases, led by Jackson Loftin and Wilson, kept pressure on Charleston’s defense.
The Atlantic League season, in its early stages, sees Charleston building momentum after the win, while Southern Maryland seeks its first victory. The teams’ contrasting starts highlight the competitive nature of the independent league, with both squads showcasing offensive depth in the matchup.
