HIGH POINT, N.C. – Southern Maryland broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run sixth inning and went on to defeat the High Point Rockers 6-3 on Saturday night at Truist Point on Military Appreciation Night.
The loss snapped High Point’s eight-game winning streak and leaves the Rockers with a 38-26 record on the season. The Blue Crabs, the North Division first half champions, improved to 46-18.
High Point starter Jonah Scolaro set down the first 11 Southern Maryland hitters he faced and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
High Point took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on back-to-back solo home runs by Zander Wiel and Logan Morrison. It was Wiel’s 17th homer of the year and Morrison’s eighth.
Scolaro did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. After he walked Joe DeLuca, Braxton Lee doubled to left field to drive in the ‘Crabs first run. He scored on a ground out by Ryan Haug to tie the game at 2-2.
Southern Maryland scored four times in the sixth. After Scolaro allowed a lead-off single to Jack Sundberg before Michael Wielansky tripled and then scored on a wild pitch. Joe Johnson came on for Scolaro and allowed a single to David Harris before Alex Crosby stroked a double that scored Harris. Crosby then scored on a ground out by Braxton Lee that gave SMD a 6-2 advantage.
Scolaro (L, 2-2) allowed just three hits through 5.1 innings and struck out six with a pair of walks. Southern Maryland starter Eddit Butler (W, 5-2) scattered seven hits over seven innings and allowed two runs while walking one and striking out three. Mat Latos (S, 18), the Atlantic League save leader, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save of the year.
Wiel, Morrison and Michael Martinez each had a pair of hits for the Rockers. David Harris led Southern Maryland with two hits. Haug, the Atlantic League leader in hit by pitch, was hit twice on Saturday, marking the fifth time he’s been hit twice in a game.
The rubber match between High Point and Southern Maryland is set for a special 6:05 p.m. start time on Sunday so as to accommodate the Rockers’ post-game fireworks show.
