The St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball team dropped both ends of a United East Conference doubleheader to Penn State Abington on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Alverthorpe Park in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
The Seahawks fell 13-7 in the opener and 11-1 in the nightcap, which ended after seven innings. St. Mary’s dropped to 8-17 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
In game one, the Seahawks trailed 4-0 early but erupted for six runs in the third inning to take a 6-4 lead. Aaron Wathen drew an RBI walk, Layne Lesko delivered a two-run double, and Corey Brown and Kody Adkins added RBI singles. St. Mary’s added one more run in the seventh on Brown’s second RBI single of the game, cutting the deficit to 7-6.
Penn State Abington responded with four runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth to secure the victory. John Busco went 2-for-3 with five runs scored and a home run. Benjamin Gagnon drove in three runs with two doubles.
The Seahawks collected 14 hits. Eli Shafer led the way with a 3-for-5 performance. Wathen, Lesko, Brown and Adkins each had multi-hit games. Brady Hopkins took the loss.
In game two, St. Mary’s managed just one run on a solo home run by DJ Sifford in the fourth inning. Penn State Abington scored two in the second, five in the sixth and four in the seventh.
Nathan Schurga had three hits and two RBIs for the Nittany Lions. Akira Nakamura drove in four runs. Jack Wright earned the complete-game win, allowing one run on eight hits. Ryan Matthews took the loss for St. Mary’s.
Eli Shafer recorded two hits in the nightcap. Corey Brown and Kyle Catanzaro added doubles.
St. Mary’s will look to rebound in United East Conference play when it travels to Wilson College for a single game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 3 p.m.
The Seahawks showed offensive potential in the first game with timely hitting and patience at the plate during their third-inning rally. The team totaled 14 hits in the opener, demonstrating the ability to string together productive at-bats against a strong Penn State Abington pitching staff.
Defensive miscues and a late offensive surge by the hosts proved costly in both contests. Penn State Abington, which entered the day with a strong conference record, capitalized on opportunities to pull away.
Southern Maryland fans have followed the Seahawks through a challenging road stretch. The team returned from Pennsylvania with a 0-10 away record this season, highlighting the difficulty of competing on the road in the United East Conference.
Eli Shafer continued his consistent hitting, combining for five hits across the doubleheader. His performance at the top of the lineup provides a spark for an offense that has shown flashes of production throughout 2026.
The loss to Penn State Abington dropped St. Mary’s to fourth in the preseason United East poll but keeps the team in the conference race with several games remaining. Keystone College and Penn State Harrisburg currently sit atop the standings with undefeated conference records.
St. Mary’s home record stands at 8-5, showing stronger results at the Hawk’s Nest in St. Mary’s City. The upcoming road game at Wilson offers a chance to improve conference standing before returning home for later series.
Wilson College, which lost 7-4 to St. Mary’s on April 15 in St. Mary’s City, will host the rematch. The Seahawks pulled away late in that contest with a multi-run rally to secure the victory.
Baseball in Southern Maryland benefits from the region’s proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and growing interest in local college athletics. St. Mary’s College, as the National Public Honors College, balances academics and athletics while competing in the United East Conference against teams from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The doubleheader sweep by Penn State Abington underscores the competitive balance in the conference. The Nittany Lions improved to 26-10 overall and 9-4 in league play with the victories.
St. Mary’s pitching staff faced a tough test against Abington’s lineup. Multiple relievers entered in both games as the hosts mounted late rallies.
Offensive leaders for the Seahawks this season include several players who contributed in the Abington series. The team will need continued production from its core hitters as it navigates the final stretch of conference play.
The April 21 game at Wilson marks the start of a busy week for St. Mary’s, with additional conference action scheduled in coming days. The Seahawks aim to tighten their conference record and build momentum heading into May.
Community support remains strong for Seahawk athletics in St. Mary’s County and across Southern Maryland. Local residents often travel to follow the teams or attend home contests at the Hawk’s Nest.
With temperatures warming and the baseball season progressing, conditions should favor outdoor play as the conference schedule intensifies. St. Mary’s will look to leverage its home-field advantage in future games while seeking road improvements.
The United East Conference tournament is scheduled for late April into early May, with seeding based on final standings. St. Mary’s remains focused on climbing the standings through consistent performance.
