April 1, 2007
Box Score
DOVER, Del. - Delaware State University (DSU) pitching was hot as the Hornet hurlers led DSU to a three game sweep of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series. The Hornets topped the Hawks 11-0, 5-4, and 10-0 spoiling Head coach William Gardner's return to the team he served as an assistant for the last two years.
The two MEAC rivals played a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31 at Soldier Field. Dustin Longchamps pitched well for the Hawks (6-23, 3-3 MEAC) but took the loss allowing seven runs, just four earned and striking out 13 over seven innings of work. He wasn't helped by the Hawk offense that collected just one hit, a single through the left side by third baseman Ken Richardson. That occurred in the eighth inning as Richardson moved over Kevin Hillenburg who led0offf with a walk. Following a fly out James Walls reached on an error to load the bases and give UMES a chance to score. It wasn't to be as the Hornets (13-12-1, 3-0 MEAC) got Derrick Baker to ground out to second to end the threat and the inning.
JR McAllister pitched a gem for DSU as he went a complete game eight innings allowing just the one hit and one walk and striking out eight. He improved to 6-2 on the year.
Four Hornets had two hits a piece and Brandon Gravely scored 3 times to go along with his 3 stolen bases. Ryne Scheiwe hit his 2nd home run of the season in a 6 run 3rd inning by Delaware State. Randy Boyer ended the game by the ten run rule in the bottom of the 8th inning with a 2 RBI double to right center.
Game two saw the Hawks take the advantage. They fell behind in the first, giving up one DSU run in the bottom of the first inning. UMES tied it right back in the top of the second. Josh Dean led-off the inning with a walk and went to second on a Richardson sacrifice bunt attempt that wound up a hit. Both runners moved over on a Tyler Winch ground out and Dean scored the tying run on a Walls sacrifice fly.
The hawks took the lead in the third, plating three runs. Eric Gaines led-off with a walk and promptly took second base, recording his seventh steal of the season. He went to third on a Joel Gonzalez ground out. Justin Hoban walked to put runners on the corners and Gaines scored on a Hillenburg single through the right side. Hoban and Hillenburg would then move up to third and second respectively on a Jamie Friel wild pitch. They both then scored as Dean reached on an error by Alex Carter at third. Dean would collect one RBI on the error.
The Hawks took the lead all the way to the bottom of the sixth inning behind strong pitching my Mike Roberts. He would get the loss however as DSU scored four in the bottom of the inning. All five of Robert's runs allowed were unearned.
DSU's Brandon Gravely led the offense with 2 hits and the eventual game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 6th. Eric Allen laced a two out double to right center to tie the game before Gravely knocked him in. The Hawks made two errors in the inning, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter. All in all it spelled a loss for the Hawks when they had the win in their grasp.
"I was very disappointed," said Gardner. "We didn't play well at all the whole weekend, we didn't hit well, but in game two, we had the lead and blew it because we made mistakes. Four errors will not win many games, no matter who your playing."
Richardson led the offense again, picking up a pair of hits. Hillenburg, Dean and Walls accounted for the RBI while Gaines, Hoban, Hillenburg and Dean each scored.
Anthony Gibbons picked up the win for Delaware State, throwing 4 innings of shutout relief improving his record to 2-2 on the year.
Game three was sadly much of the same story as game one. It led to the series sweep as DSU topped the Hawks, 10-0. The game ended in the 5th inning because of the 10 run rule.
Tony Tevis was the winner for the Hornets, improving his record to 2-3. Tevis pitched a complete game, only allowing 4 hits. UMES committed just as many errors.
Jamar Cadejuste was the losing pitcher for the Hawks. He pitched 3.1 innings, giving up 11 hits and 9 runs. Winch relieved him in the fourth inning and allowed one hit and one run.
Hoban, Dean, Richardson and Winch each collected a hit in the game.
Leading on offense for the Hornets was Tom Shelley, Wynton Weather and Justin Bittner. Shelley went 3 for 3, Weather went 2 for 2, and Bittner went 2 for 3. Eric Allen hit a homerun in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
UMES will regroup and prepare for another MEAC series this weekend, hosting Norfolk State on Saturday in a double header and a single game on Easter Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for noon and for 1:00 pm on Sunday. UMES has earned all its wins at home this season, including a three game series sweep over MEAC foe Coppin State in the previous weekend.
