March 4, 2007
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) split a double header with Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) on Sunday, March 4 with a 9-8 loss in game one and a 6-5 victory in game two. UMES also started the day early, continuing a seven inning game from day one that was tied at five. They fell in that game 7-5.
In game two UMES jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Eric Gaines led-off with a walk and went to second when FDU starter Blanco hit centerfielder Josh Dean. The hot hitting Joel Gonzalez dug in and reached on an infield single that would load the bases. Catcher Justin Hoban stepped in and doubled to left, s hot that would plate all three Hawks.
FDU got two back in the third inning but UMES answered right back with a run of their own to make it 4-3. That run would be scored by Eric Gaines who reached on a single to start the inning. Hoban ground into a double play that scored Gaines, no RBI.
The Knights added two more in the fourth to tie the game at four. One came from Zachary Sand who led-off with a single up the middle, the other from Matt Morton who both scored on a Furey single to left.
The Hawks took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Gaines again led-off with a walk. He went to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch. A Gonzalez single plated him. After Gonzalez stole second a Hoban single put him on third. Kevin Hillenburg took advantage of an FDU pitching change to single home Gonzalez for the 6-4 lead.
FDU got one more in the top of the seventh but starter Ken Richardson held on for the complete game win, his first of the season. He allowed just six Knight hits and five earned runs while striking out four.
Blanco picked up the loss allowing six earned runs over four and one third innings. He walked three and struck out just one Hawk batter.
In game one UMES fell one run short, 9-8. Despite a 4-5 effort from Gonzalez, UMES didn't have any other player record more than one hit.
FDU jumped out to a 4-0 lead, scoring one in the first and second and two in the fourth inning. The two in the fourth came on a wild pitch and an error, the Hawks made two in the game compared to FDU's five.
UMES answered back with two in the fourth and one in the fifth. In the bottom of the fourth UMES would plate two with two outs. James Walls started it with a two-out walk and went to second on a balk. A Derek Baker single to left would plate the quick Walls and Baker wound up on second. Fellow freshman Tyler Winch would single up the middle and Baker would score. UMES tried to keep it going as Winch stole second and Gaines drew a walk but Richardson flew out to deep center and ended the inning.
The Hawks got the one run in the fifth as Dean hit a triple to right, scoring Hoban who had reached on an error.
The Knights battled back again, getting three runs in the sixth. A Maher triple scored Chris Grabowski and Jeffers sacrificed Maher home. Sand would double to right and then score on a Luis Rosario single.
UMES was up to the challenge, scoring three of their own in the bottom of the inning. FDU changed pitchers and the Hawks took advantage. Baker led-off with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a deep fly ball by Winch. He would then score on another wild pitch. Gaines would walk and Richardson would do the same. A third wild pitch advanced them to second and third. Who else but Gonzalez would step-up and single home Gaines and put Richardson on third. Hoban sacrificed Richardson home and the Hawks trailed by just one, 7-6.
Both teams would go scoreless in the seventh and eighth until FDU plated a pair in the top of the ninth to go ahead 9-6. Roasario doubled to center and pushed Sand, who was hit by a pitch on third. A wild pitch from Michael Willey, who just entered to face the third batter scored Sand and put Roasrio on third. A Vincent Pennacchio single through the right side would plate Rosario and make it a three run game.
FDU brought in a closer for the save but UMES got to him as well. They opened with a Hillenburg double down the right field line. After two outs UMES seemed in trouble but Baker was hit by a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch that plated Hillenburg. Winch reached on an error by first baseman Jovan Santos and Baker would score. Gaines made the third out, hitting a hard shot to the second baseman and earning Arciuolo his first save of the year as UMES fell 9-8.
Meadus earned the win, going five innings and allowing three runs, two earned and three walks. Five different Knights had two hits apiece in the game and six different each had one RBI. Sand scored twice.
On the day Gonzalez moved his average above .400 for the season with a 6-7 day while adding two runs and two RBI. Hoban was also hot hitting 3-7 with a run and four RBI.
In the final inning of game two from Saturday, Willey took the hill and gave up a Morton single to center, followed by a sacrifice bunt by T.J. Pilla to move Morton to second. A Vincent single, followed by a steal put Knights on second and third with two outs. It appeared the Hawks would get out of it but a long at bat by Grabowski would lead to a single to left center and score both runners.
UMES would be unable to score in the bottom of the seventh. With one out UMES loaded the bases on a Richardson single, a Gonzalez walk and an error that allowed Gonzalez to be safe at second and Hoban to reach on fielder's choice. It appeared the Hawks were in business but a hard hit ball by Hillenburg appeared to get the force on Hoban at second but his slide was called interference and Hillenburg was out as well.
In that game Richardson was 2-4 with a run and Willey would take the loss. O'Hara got the win where he started on Saturday and Meadus the save.
UMES takes to the road after a nine game home stand on Wednesday, facing the Blackbirds of Long Island University in New York. The following weekend the take on the Keydets of VMI in a three game series.
