HIGH POINT, NC—On September 4, 2025, the High Point Rockers secured a 7-5 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in a closely contested Atlantic League game at Truist Point. The three-hour, one-minute matchup, played before 1,006 fans under threatening skies, saw the Rockers (68-46) capitalize on early scoring and strong pitching to hold off the Blue Crabs (61-53), who battled back but fell short despite a late rally.
The game opened with High Point striking first. In the bottom of the first, Luis Gonzalez doubled, and DJ Mendoza’s two-run homer put the Rockers up 2-0. They extended their lead in the third when Mendoza drove in two more runs, followed by Ben Aklinski’s RBI double, making it 5-0. Southern Maryland responded in the fourth, with Alejandro De Aza’s two-run homer narrowing the gap to 5-2. The Blue Crabs added two more runs in the sixth when Braxton Barrera’s triple drove in two, bringing the score to 5-4.
High Point answered in the seventh, with Evan Edwards scoring on a passed ball and Gonzalez adding an RBI single, pushing the lead to 7-4. Southern Maryland mounted a final push in the ninth, with Jalen Baylor’s RBI single scoring De Aza, but Jameson McGrane closed the door for the Rockers, earning the save with a 1.74 ERA. Erich Uelmen, the winning pitcher, allowed four earned runs over five innings, striking out seven, while Shawn Semple took the loss for the Blue Crabs, giving up six earned runs in four innings.
Mendoza led the Rockers’ offense, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run, while Gonzalez contributed a double and an RBI. For the Blue Crabs, Barrera’s 2-for-4 performance, including a triple and two RBIs, stood out, alongside De Aza’s homer and stolen base. The game saw its share of miscues, with Barrera committing a fielding error for Southern Maryland and Luke Napleton making an error for High Point, which also allowed two stolen bases.
Southern Maryland’s pitching staff struggled to contain High Point’s bats early, with Semple throwing 73 pitches, 51 for strikes, but allowing eight hits. Relievers Roberto Vazquez, Josh Miller, Cody Chatham, and Jake Wright provided support, with Wright retiring both batters faced in the eighth. For the Rockers, Uelmen’s 86-pitch effort set the tone, backed by relievers Sam Rouse, Kyle Halbohn, and McGrane, who combined for five strikeouts and no earned runs.
The loss adds urgency to the Blue Crabs’ final stretch as they aim for a playoff spot. Southern Maryland fans, known for their loyalty, are rallying behind the team, with upcoming home games expected to draw strong crowds. The Atlantic League, an independent professional baseball league, continues to showcase competitive talent, and this matchup highlighted the intensity of the Blue Crabs-Rockers rivalry.
