BOWIE, Md. — The Chesapeake Baysox rallied in the 10th inning to defeat the Harrisburg Senators 3-2 on Wednesday night at Prince George’s Stadium, salvaging a win in the final homestand of the 2025 Eastern League season. The victory snapped a two-game skid for the Baysox, who improved to 57-70 overall and remained fifth in the Southwest Division, while the Senators fell to 65-64 and held fourth place. Attendance reached 1,685 under partly cloudy skies with temperatures at 76 degrees and a 10 mph wind blowing right to left.
The game, which started at 6:37 p.m. and lasted 2 hours and 53 minutes, featured strong pitching from both sides and a dramatic finish. Harrisburg struck first in the bottom of the first when Austin Overn stole home for a 1-0 lead, capitalizing on a stolen base during a play at the plate. Overn, who entered the game with 18 steals, swiped second and third off Senators starter Alex Clemmey before racing home on a passed ball. The Senators extended their advantage in the second inning as Ethan Anderson launched a solo home run to left field, his first of the season, off Clemmey to make it 2-0.
The Baysox offense struggled early against a trio of Erie pitchers who combined for 10 innings of work, but they broke through in the top of the third. Kevin Made delivered a two-run single to right field, scoring Seaver King and Keibert Ruiz to tie the score at 2-2. Made’s hit, his 37th RBI of the year, came with two outs and runners in scoring position, highlighting the team’s persistence in a 2-for-13 effort overall with runners in scoring position. The Senators left 11 runners on base, including five in scoring position, while the Baysox stranded six.
Pitching dominated from there, with both bullpens holding firm through regulation. Clemmey took the loss for Harrisburg, dropping to 0-1 with a 13.11 ERA after allowing two runs over six innings on 12 hits, striking out two and walking two. He threw 83 pitches, 49 for strikes, and was charged with a wild pitch. Relievers Jack Schultz, Samuel Vasquez, Junior Santos and Bryan Saenz combined for the remaining three innings, allowing one run on two hits. Saenz (5-7) surrendered the game-winning hit after just 0.2 innings, raising his ERA to 4.63.
For the Baysox, starter Zach Fruit (1-4) worked 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts, his ERA climbing to 7.09. The bullpen took over seamlessly, with Irving Ogando, Carter Baumler, Nick Barnhart and Brad Neighbors combining for 7.1 scoreless innings. Neighbors earned the win, his first of the season, after 2.1 innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts and no walks, lowering his ERA to 0.00. The Baysox pitchers issued four wild pitches in total, contributing to Harrisburg’s early scoring chances.
Extra innings brought the tension to a peak. In the top of the 10th, with Brandon Butterworth pinch-hitting for Tavian Josenberger and placed on second under international tiebreaker rules, Overn lined a sharp single to center off Saenz, scoring Butterworth from second for the go-ahead run. Overn’s hit, his eighth RBI of the season, came with Carter Young advancing to third. Neighbors then retired the Senators in the bottom half, striking out two to preserve the victory.
Defensive plays added to the drama. Josenberger made an outfield assist in the fourth, throwing out a Baysox runner at home, while the Senators committed one error, allowing an unearned run. Baserunning was key for Harrisburg, with Overn stealing three bases, including home, and Kevin O’Ferrall and Max Wagner adding steals. However, a caught stealing by Hodo in the 10th inning off Santos and catcher Lomavita halted a potential rally.
The win provides a bright spot for the Baysox as they wrap up their 2025 campaign at home against the Senators through Sunday, September 7. This six-game series marks the end of a 69-home-game schedule at Prince George’s Stadium, where the Baysox hosted two series each against division foes like Harrisburg, Altoona and Erie. The team, affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles since 1993, has endured a challenging season with a 57-70 record, focusing on development for prospects like Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Hudson Haskin amid roster turnover.
The Eastern League’s Southwest Division has been competitive this year, with the Altoona Curve leading at 70-57, followed by the Richmond Flying Squirrels at 68-59, Erie SeaWolves at 65-62 and the Senators at 65-64. The Baysox, despite their position, have shown flashes of potential, including a 2015 league championship and a 2019 division title under manager Buck Britton, who earned Eastern League Manager of the Year honors that season. The team rebranded from Bowie Baysox to Chesapeake Baysox in November 2024 to better reflect the broader regional fan base, including Southern Maryland.
Looking ahead, the Baysox will hit the road for their final series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats starting September 9, concluding the regular season on September 14. Playoff implications are minimal for Chesapeake, but individual performances could influence call-ups to Triple-A Norfolk or even the majors. Fans can follow the action via MiLB.com streams or local radio broadcasts on WNAV, with 40 games aired live this season.
This matchup underscores the Eastern League’s role in player development, where future stars hone skills in a 138-game grind. For Southern Maryland baseball enthusiasts, the Baysox offer affordable entertainment and a direct link to the Orioles system, fostering community ties through events like Autism Awareness Night and themed promotions. As the season winds down, the focus shifts to 2026, when the Baysox open at home on April 8 against the Erie SeaWolves.
