(Central Islip, N.Y., May 12, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars 15-11 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
The Ducks took an immediate 3-0 lead in the first inning on Frank Schwindel’s three-run home run to left field off Flying Boxcars starter Parker Markel. Hagerstown responded in the second with solo homers by Curtis Terry and Osvaldo Abreu in the second off Ducks starter Mike Montgomery, closing the gap to one. A sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Eury Perez in the third tied the game at three.
Long Island immediately went back in front by three in the bottom of the third, as Rixon Wingrove (two-run) and Tyler Dearden (solo) launched back-to-back home runs to right-center field. However, a seven-run fourth inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Abreu and Terry along with a two-run single by Perez, put the Flying Boxcars ahead 10-6. Perez added a two-run double in the sixth to make it a six-run ballgame.
A five-run eighth inning, all with two men out, brought the Ducks to within a run. Schwindel’s solo homer to left, Dearden’s single to right and Aaron Antonini’s three-run homer to right highlighted the inning, but they could not pull even. Three unearned runs in the ninth for Hagerstown rounded out the scoring.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Montgomery lasted three innings, giving up three runs on three hits with one strikeout. Markel pitched four innings, conceding six runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout. Rafael Kelley (1-1) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless fifth inning, working around three hits and striking out one. Bobby Vath (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks over three and one-third innings with two strikeouts.
Dearden led the Ducks offense with three hits, two RBIs and two runs. Schwindel added a pair of homers and drove in four runs. Antonini had two hits, three RBIs and a run, while Wingrove chipped in with two hits, two RBIs and two runs.
The Ducks hit the road on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the York Revolution. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at WellSpan Park. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Stephen Woods Jr. (0-2, 9.48) gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution lefty Will Stewart (0-1, 7.71).
Long Island returns home on Friday, May 24, to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster Stormers. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Doug Jennings Oversized Baseball Card as part of the 2004 Championship 20th Anniversary Series. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and as fans exit the ballpark, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for 20% off your entire check (dine-in) and 50% off your first online or mobile app order from Tap Room. 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.
The Ducks are in their 24th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, led all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance in 2023, and have sold out a record 706 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, 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. Over its 25-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
###