April 30, 2006

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fl. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) baseball team was swept in a doubleheader yesterday by Bethune-Cookman College (BCC) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Fighting Hawks, who just came off of a three game series sweep of Florida A&M University, fell short in game one 3-2 and struggled on the mound to drop game two, 15-2.

The Hawks (14-29-1, 8-9 MEAC) were led by senior Ronald Quick who went 2-for-4 including a double and plating a run while seniors Morgan Schirmer and Joel Maher both went 2-for-4 with Maher recording an RBI.

In game one, UMES didn't waste anytime as Eric Gaines led off with a double to left center in the top of the first. Maher followed with a single to right field that plated Gaines. Greg Cathell would groundout to the first base and Maher would be thrown out at second. Justin Hoban would slug out a two-out double to centerfield. Anthony Jackson would reach with a single to the shortstop and a strikeout from Quick would end the inning.

Hawks starter Jason Janeski would come out strong as he retired the first three Wildcat batters in the bottom of the first.

BCC (23-22, 11-0 MEAC) would jump on the board in the bottom of the second as they plated three runs on two hits.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the fourth, Quick would start the inning with a double to right field. He would then score on a throwing error from second baseman Jose Almonte. Two groundouts and a strikeout would end the inning for the Hawks.

Both teams would go scoreless over the next five innings.

Janeski (2-8) pitched well but was tagged with the loss after eight innings of work giving up just three hits, three runs (all earned) and striking out three.

Dustin Blackwell (5-6) grabbed the win for the Wildcats as he worked eight innings giving up nine hits, two runs (one earned), fanning four.

Francisco Gomez, who is tied for 10th in the nation in saves, took the mound in relief in the top of the ninth tossing one inning and giving up just one hit for his ninth save of the season.

Three Wildcats had a hit apiece Chris Henault, Kevin Belliard and Patrick Jones.

UMES got their first run of game two in the top of the first when Gaines singled to right field and stole second. With two outs, Hoban doubled to left center to plate Gaines.

The Hawks squad had trouble on the mound throughout game two beginning in the bottom of the first as starting pitcher Ken Richardson was removed after facing the first four batters and Brad Powell took the mound. BCC scored three runs on two hits to take a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, shortstop Chris Henault hit a solo bomb to leftfield to make the score 4-1.

The Wildcats blew the game wide open in the fifth as they plated 11 runs on eight hits. Sophomore Daniel Sterling came in for Powell but after back-to-back walks the Hawks would turn to their bullpen and bring in freshman Brian White. Three hits and three runs later sophomore James Walls would replace White. Another six runs and two outs later freshman Brandon Records would be called in to get the last out.

Down 15- 1, UMES would cross their last run of the day in the top of the sixth as Hoban with one out would reach on a walk. Quick singled to centerfield to advance Hoban to third. Jackson would reach next on an RBI fielders' choice that plated Hoban but Quick would be thrown out at third.

Richardson (2-3) suffered the loss for the Hawks after throwing not even a whole inning and giving up three runs (all earned) on one hit and walking two.

Gaines and Quick led the offense in game two both recording two hits apiece while Gaines registered a stolen base and a run.

Sophomore hurler R.J. Rodriguez (6-2) picked up the win for BCC going five innings, allowing one run on four hits while fanning nine.

The Wildcats were led by right-fielder Nabil Sagbini who went 3-for-4 including a double, while crossing a pair of runs and recording an RBI. Henault was 2-for-3 in the effort including homerun, while recording a pair of RBI and plating three runs.

These pair of conference wins secured Bethune-Cookman College a first place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

The Fighting Hawks will take on the same Wildcat squad today to conclude the three-game series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark at 1:00 pm.