Ducks complete sweep of Hagerstown, advance to Atlantic League Championship Series

In Game 3 of the Atlantic League’s North Division Championship Series, Hagerstown took an early lead over the Ducks for the third straight game.

Yet despite being on the road in front of nearly 4,000 mostly Hagerstown fans cheering on the Flying Boxcars in the franchise’s first home playoff game, the Ducks played the spoiler. Again.

For the first time since 2021, the Ducks will play in the Atlantic League Championship Series after defeating the Flying Boxcars, 3-1, on Friday night to complete the sweep.

“There was a little relief,” manager Lew Ford said about the final out. “This was a close game — a lot of the games were close — but our guys played well and played well all the way to the end of the game.”

The Ducks, who have not won the league title since 2019, await the winner of the Southern Maryland-Lexington series and will play on the road in Game 1 of the best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series on Tuesday. The Ducks, who have won 15 of their last 17 games, will host Games 3, 4 and 5 if the series goes that long.

Anthony Escobar allowed one run in five innings on Leobaldo Cabrera’s home run in the second inning.

THE FINAL OUT! 🦆🏆

Next stop: Atlantic League Championship! 🏆#livseverybody ⚡ pic.twitter.com/ey5xcFl42G

— Long Island Ducks (@LIDucks) September 19, 2026

“Nobody’s going to shut us out,” the Ducks’ Henry Kusiak said. “When you chain together good at-bats, good things are bound to happen.”

Gavin Collins led off the fifth with a double and singles by Chris Roller and Kole Kaler tied the score.

Two outs later, with runners on first and third, Jacob Robson stole second and Kaler stole home to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead. Kusiak’s double made it 3-1.

“We stole second twice with a guy at third, and [catcher Derek Bender] had thrown down both times,” Ford said. “As soon as he comes up to throw, we’re going. We’re trying to steal a run right there.”