AUGUSTA, N.J. (July 10, 2025) – The Down East Bird Dawgs wrapped up their road trip with a series win but couldn’t complete the sweep Thursday night, falling 7–1 to the Sussex County Miners in the finale.

Sussex County scored their first runs of the series in the first inning when Gabriel Maciel hit a two-run homer to take a 2-0 lead.

Dom Johnson added to the Miners momentum in the third with an RBI single, and Jordan Smith came around to score on a wild pitch. Sussex County tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Keenan O’Brien drew a bases-loaded walk and Will Zimmerman followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 6–0.

The Bird Dawgs got on the board in the sixth, when Emmanuel Tapia laced a double to right-center to drive in a run and cut the deficit to 6–1.

The Miners responded in the bottom of the frame with three straight doubles, including another RBI from Johnson, to stretch the lead to 7–1.

Kellen Brothers (5–2) earned the win for Sussex County, allowing one run on eight hits over eight innings.

Bird Dawgs starter Andrew Baker (2–4) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in two innings.

Despite the defeat, the Bird Dawgs claimed the series, two games to one. They return home for a three-game set against the New York Boulders before the All-Star break. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, July 11, at Historic Grainger Stadium.