KINSTON, N.C. (June 10, 2026) – The Down East Bird Dawgs could not replicate Tuesday's magic, managing just two runs on eleven hits in a 6-2 loss to the Sussex County Miners at Historic Grainger Stadium Wednesday night.

Sussex County opened the scoring in the second as Keenan Taylor hit a solo homer to go up 1-0.

Sussex County built the lead methodically, scoring once in the second on a Keenan Taylor solo homer, twice in the fourth on an Edwin Mateo RBI double and a Sandro Gaston RBI single, and two more in the fifth on a Kiko Romero RBI single and a Mateo sacrifice fly to take a commanding 5-0 advantage.

li LaPread pulled one back for Down East with an RBI single in the sixth to make it 5-1, but the Miners added an insurance run in the ninth from Taylor before Trey Law doubled in a run in the bottom half with two runners stranded to set the final at 6-2.

Rolando Heredia-Bustos (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

Jackson Balzan (2-1) earned the win for Sussex County, holding Down East to one run on eight hits over 5⅓ innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

The Bird Dawgs (14-15) drop game two of the six-game series and look to bounce back for game three against the Miners on Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. from Historic Grainger Stadium