Hagerstown upends Potomac State; takes charge of Region XX tourney

ARNOLD, MD- Hagerstown scored three unearned runs in the first inning and Corey Livengood won a pitchers duel against Nathan Fike as the Hawks upended Potomac State, 5-1, in the rain-soaked and delayed Region XX, Division I Tournament Tuesday afternoon. The loss drops the Catamounts (36-9) into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Potomac State, gunning for its fifth straight region championship, plays Monroe (N.Y.) in an elimination game this morning at 10:00 a.m. Monroe eliminated Chesapeake on Tuesday. To win the tournament, the Potomac State/Monroe winner will have to beat Hagerstown twice. This morning's winner plays Hagerstown at 1 p.m. this afternoon. A third game, if necessary, would be Thursday at 11 a.m.

The tournament, which began Sunday, two days behind schedule at Joe Cannon Stadium, is now being held at Anne Arundel Community College.  In Tuesday's game, two errors, a walk and a passed ball paved the way for a three-run first inning for Hagerstown (37-16-1). Matt Stover had an RBI single in the first inning, and Charles Johnson hit a solo homer in the
seventh for the Hawks.

Livengood pitched all nine innings, allowed six hits, walked three and struck out six as Hagerstown beat Potomac State for the first time in three tries this season.

Fike (7-1), a left-hander, was tagged with his first loss. He pitched 8 2/3 solid innings, allowed only two earned runs, walked three and struck out 11.

Potomac State scored its run on an RBI single by Chris Szafran, which came in the fifth inning after walks to Jacke Healey and Kevin Griffin.

Johnson finished 2-for-4 and Mike Knight had a double and an RBI for Hagerstown. Matt Schrader doubled for Potomac State.