(Central Islip, N.Y., May 27, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks split a day/night doubleheader with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, taking game one 8-5 before dropping game two 9-2.

The Ducks opened the scoring in the second inning on a pair of solo home runs to right field by Alex Dickerson and Brian Goodwin off Blue Crabs starter McKenzie Mills. Long Island then batted around and plated four runs in the third, extending their lead to 6-0. Boog Powell singled and later scored on a wild pitch, and Sam Travis crushed a three-run homer to left field.

Southern Maryland closed the gap to 6-3 in the fourth on Michael Wielansky’s RBI double and RBI singles by Braxton Lee and Jose Rosario off Ducks starter Stephen Woods Jr. However, a two-out, two-run triple to right by Adeiny Hechavarria in the fifth pushed Long Island’s advantage back up to five.

The Blue Crabs trimmed their deficit to 8-5 in the sixth on a sac fly from Isaias Quiroz and a run-scoring groundout by Rosario. However, they were unable to pull even.

Woods Jr. (4-0) picked up the win, tossing five innings of three-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out five. Mills (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks over three innings with two strikeouts. Al Alburquerque collected his second save of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Travis led the Flock offensively with two hits, three RBIs and a run. Hechavarria added two hits, two RBIs, a run and a walk, while Daniel Murphy and Joe DeCarlo also picked up two hits apiece.

Southern Maryland struck first in game two on a first inning RBI double by K.C. Hobson off Ducks starter Chris Cepeda. Jack Sundberg’s three-run homer to right in the second extended the Blue Crabs lead to four. Four more runs in the third, highlighted by RBI singles from Ian Yetsko and Michael Baca along with a two-run single from Sundberg made it 8-0.

Long Island got on the scoreboard in the fifth courtesy of Mike Wilson’s RBI fielder’s choice and Travis’ RBI single to center off Blue Crabs starter Mitch Lambson. Southern Maryland rounded out the scoring in the eighth on Lee’s RBI single.

Lambson (5-0) earned the win, tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing nine hits and a walk while striking out three. Cepeda (0-2) took the loss, conceding eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with a strikeout in two and one-third innings.

Travis led the Flock offensively in game two with a pair of hits and an RBI.

The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Quackers, courtesy of Romeo’s Fuel. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union! Prior to the game, fans will be invited down for a Catch on the Field from 12:40 to 1:00. After the game, fans of all ages are also invited to take part in Kids Run the Bases.

Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8.5 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season in 2023, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit AtlanticLeague.com. 

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