The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs clinched a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in a 10-inning Atlantic League game on September 5, 2025, at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, North Carolina. A late rally, capped by a three-run 10th inning, propelled the Blue Crabs to their 62nd win, improving their record to 62-53 and strengthening their standing in the South Division. The game, attended by 2,403 fans under partly cloudy skies, showcased standout performances from Jackson Loftin and Jamari Baylor, who powered the offense in a tightly contested matchup.
The Blue Crabs struck first in the third inning when Loftin’s two-run home run gave them a 1-0 lead. They extended it to 2-0 in the fourth with Zach Racusin’s RBI single. Gastonia responded in the sixth, erupting for three runs, including a solo home run by Aaron McKeithan, to take a 3-2 lead. The Blue Crabs tied it in the seventh when Loftin scored on Sam Dexter’s RBI single. The score remained knotted until the ninth, when Gastonia surged ahead 4-3 on Carter Aldrete’s RBI single. Southern Maryland answered in the ninth, with Baylor’s two-run homer tying the game at 4-4, forcing extra innings.
In the 10th, the Blue Crabs seized control. Loftin’s second home run, a two-run shot, and Braeden Barrera’s RBI single delivered a 7-4 lead. Gastonia fought back in the bottom half, scoring two runs on Nate Scantlin’s sacrifice fly and a wild pitch, but fell short at 7-6. Endrys Briceño earned the win for Southern Maryland, pitching two innings and allowing two runs, while Nick Horvath took the loss for Gastonia after surrendering three runs in the 10th.
Loftin led the Blue Crabs, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Baylor was equally impactful, hitting a home run, driving in two runs, and scoring twice. Barrera added a double and an RBI, while Dexter contributed an RBI single. For Gastonia, McKeithan’s home run and Aldrete’s two RBIs paced the offense, with Scantlin and Cole Roederer each adding an RBI. The Blue Crabs recorded 12 hits and one error, leaving nine runners on base, while Gastonia had 10 hits, one error, and 10 left on base.
The game, which lasted 3 hours and 29 minutes, saw strong pitching efforts. Southern Maryland’s Aaron Thurman threw five innings, allowing three runs, while Gastonia’s Liam Newsome gave up two runs over five innings. The Blue Crabs’ defense, anchored by catcher L.J. Lin’s 11 putouts, held firm despite Gastonia’s four stolen bases. The Atlantic League, a partner of Major League Baseball, continues to deliver competitive baseball to Southern Maryland fans, who can follow the Blue Crabs’ playoff push at Regency Furniture Stadium or online.
