harford 
FREDERICK, MD — The Fighting Owls split a doubleheader at Frederick yesterday, taking game one 9-5 and dropping the second game 7-2 to end the regular season. Harford (21-14, 11-7 Maryland Juco) will begin a best-of-three series on Friday against Monroe, with the winner advancing to play in the NJCAA Region 10 District Tournament.
Game 1
Harford Rallies Late to Defeat Frederick 9–5
The Fighting Owls staged a dramatic late-inning comeback to defeat Frederick 9–5 yesterday in game one. Entering the top of the eighth inning tied at three, Harford erupted for six runs to secure the victory.
The game began as a pitchers' duel, with neither team scoring through the first three innings. Harford broke the deadlock in the fourth when Arianna Blum (Harford Technical) singled, driving in Katelyn McCullough () to take an early 1–0 lead. The Fightins Owls added another run in the sixth as Kaylee Pruett's (Rising Sun) RBI single brought home McCullough again, extending the lead to 2–0.
Frederick responded in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a Harford error to score two unearned runs and tie the game. In the seventh, Harford regained the lead with a solo home run by Anna Sexton (Nottingham, Pa.), only for Frederick to tie it again in their half of the inning.
In the decisive eighth inning, Harford's offense came alive. Blum's RBI single scored Juliet Sanchez (Edgewood), followed by a two-run double from Kayla Gist (Hanover Towhship, Pa.). The Fighting Owls continued to pile on with RBI singles from McCullough and Pruett, and a sacrifice fly by Sanchez, culminating in a six-run inning that put the game out of reach.
Sexton earned her Harford softball-record 14th win, delivering a complete-game performance. She allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits, striking out seven and walking none over eight innings.
Harford's offense was led by McCullough and Pruett, each with multiple hits and RBIs, while Blum and Gist contributed key hits in the eighth inning rally.
Game 2
Harford Drops Game Two to Frederick Despite Late Effort, 7–2
Harford couldn't complete the doubleheader sweep, falling 7–2 to Frederick in the second game of their road series. Despite a late push, the Fighting Owls were unable to overcome an early deficit fueled by Frederick's aggressive offense in the first three innings.
Frederick jumped out to a commanding lead early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first and tacking on three more in the second. The Fighting Owls got on the board in the top of the second, thanks to Sanchez, whose groundout to shortstop brought home McCullough to cut the deficit to 2–1. But Frederick responded with three runs in the bottom half, widening the gap to 5–1.
Harford starting pitcher Pruett battled through, pitching a complete game despite the rough start. Over six innings, Pruett gave up 14 hits and seven runs, though only two of those came after the third inning.
Frederick continued its early surge in the third, adding two more runs on a pair of RBI hits. After that, however, Pruett and the Harford defense settled in, holding Frederick scoreless over the final three frames and keeping the door open for a potential comeback.
Harford's offense showed signs of life in the fourth inning when Olivia Sears (Patterson Mill) scored on a wild pitch, narrowing the gap to 7–2. But the Fighting Owls were unable to build further momentum, going scoreless in the final three innings despite collecting eight hits on the day.
The top of Harford's order contributed much of the offense. McCullough went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Blum also recorded two hits. Alexis Trzeciak (North Harford), Gist, Sexton and Eliza Lane (Dillsburg, Pa.) each added a hit to round out Harford's eight-hit effort.
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