Aberdeen, Md. – St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball absorbed a tough nonconference doubleheader loss Tuesday against King’s College (Pennsylvania) at the Ripken Experience, dropping Game 1 by an 8-6 score before falling 21-8 in the nightcap.
The Seahawks slipped to 4-7 overall while King’s improved to 3-3 on the young season. Both games showcased early offensive fireworks from the Monarchs and late rallies from St. Mary’s that came up short against a persistent Pennsylvania squad.
In Game 1, King’s seized momentum right away, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the first on four hits. Jason Cunha’s two-run single to center started the barrage, followed by RBI knocks from Zach Jenkins, Jordan Andino, and Jaiden Wanamaker. The Monarchs tacked on one more in the second and held a commanding 7-0 lead through four innings.
St. Mary’s mounted a spirited comeback in the fifth, scoring three runs to trim the gap. Connor Wilkerson sparked the rally with an RBI triple, while Eli Shafer and Rhett Fletcher each drove in a run. The Seahawks kept pressing in the sixth, plating three more to close within 8-6. Kody Adkins ripped an RBI single, Shafer delivered a sacrifice fly, and Wilkerson added an RBI single to cap the frame.
Wilkerson starred at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple. Adkins contributed two hits and an RBI. Layne Lesko, Kyle Catanzaro, and Aaron Wathen each notched a hit. Nick Russo absorbed the loss, surrendering seven runs (six earned) over four innings, with Noah Gross providing two innings of relief.
Game 2 saw St. Mary’s strike first, scoring twice in the top of the first on RBI groundouts from Kaden Hnath and Rhett Fletcher. King’s responded with authority, exploding for seven runs in the bottom half, capitalizing on several Seahawk errors to flip the script. The Monarchs kept building, adding single tallies in the second and third, then two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
The Seahawks fought back with four runs in the sixth to narrow the score to 12-8. Connor Wilkerson delivered a two-run single, and Fletcher chipped in with a sacrifice fly. King’s answered decisively, however, erupting for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away for the 21-8 final.
Wilkerson again led the offense with three RBIs. Eli Shafer crossed the plate twice and drove in a run. Layne Lesko, Will Wilson, and Caleb Bean each recorded hits. Cam Gill took the loss after allowing eight runs (one earned) over two innings in the starting role.
The doubleheader defeat highlights areas for growth as St. Mary’s prepares to open United East Conference play. The Seahawks head to Penn State Berks on Saturday, March 14, for a conference doubleheader that marks their league debut.
Southern Maryland’s only public honors college continues its 2026 campaign with a focus on tightening defensive execution and sustaining offensive momentum against conference opponents. Tuesday’s results at the Ripken Experience underscore the competitive nature of early-season nonconference matchups and the Seahawks’ resilience in battling back despite early deficits.