March 12, 2005

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team fell to 1-4 overall as they were swept today in action at the UMBC Spring Classic. The Lady Hawks lost to Niagara, 1-0 in the first game and host UMBC, 8-0 in their second game of the day.

After a scoreless two innings in the game against the Purple Eagles, Lisa Baker would come around to score for Niagara at the top of the third as Tory Healy reached on an error.

UMES tried to mount a comeback in the sixth inning, as a single by Maribeth Kulynycz (Princess Anne, MD/Holly Grove Christian) and the combination of an error and a walk left three on base for the Lady Hawks with no outs.

But Niagara was able to wiggle their way out of trouble, as Tiffany McCrory struck out the next batter. Jenille Edwards (Brampton, Ontario, Canada/St. Thomas Aquinas) popped out to center field in her at bat and Danielle White (Westover, MD/Washington) was thrown out while trying to reach home, ending UMES' hopes of tying the game.

Kulynycz and Latoya Bailey (Salisbury, MD/Bennett) each collected a hit in the loss for the Lady Hawks, while senior Christina Mason (Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada/Lakehead) pitched well for UMES, holding the Purple Eagles to three hits while striking out seven.

The Lady Hawks gave up eight runs in their second game of the day. UMES fell 8-0 to host UMBC in the final game of the afternoon, as the Retrievers erupted for 10 hits at UMBC Field on Saturday.

Sophomore Kristen Greenwood (Bel Air, MD/Catawaba College) struck out two in the first inning but Reilly Ward hit a lead off home run into left field to give the Retrievers a 1-0 lead after two innings.

UMBC put together two hits to begin the third inning and then broke the game open, as Ward homered again with two on base to drive in three runs for the Retrievers. UMBC added insurance runs at the end of the inning as Kali Shirk and Megan Oursler drove in two to open up the 8-0 final. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule.

Greenwood took the loss for UMES, giving up eight hits and seven runs in three innings while Amy Sadowl pitched five scoreless innings to pick up the win.

The Lady Hawks will continue play at the UMBC Spring Classic tomorrow, taking on St. Francis (PA), Niagara or Delaware State in the third place game at 11:30am, with UMES' opponent to be determined after the 9:30am game between the Purple Eagles and the Hornets.