March 9, 2008
Box Score
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) traveled south this weekend looking for their first win of the season. They couldn't fid it. After the weather completely rearranged the weekend schedule UMES was forced to play a doubleheader today and dropped two tough contests 8-6 and 12-4 to the home-standing Buccaneers of Charleston Southern University (CSU).
In game one UMES jumped all over CSU starter Cody Higgins for three runs in the first inning. Lead-off hitter Phillip Vaughn reached on a bunt single and then went all the way to third on Remo Orsini's single to left. Pat Hercinger was hit by the rattled hurler and the bases were loaded for the Hawks. Ryan Coppi then delivered the first run, a single to left that plated Vaughn. Jorge Pichardo stepped in and grounded into a double play but Orsini would cross the plate for the second run of the inning. A Russell Deutschmann double to right would plate Hercinger and UMES would have a 3-0 lead.
The Buccaneers got one run in the first but the Hawks got in right back in the third inning. Orsini got things going with a single to left and wound up on second with a passed ball. Hercinger then drew a walk and Higgins plunked Coppi to again load the bases. Pichardo would reach on a fielder's choice but CSU made the play at the pate to get Orsini and keep UMES off the board, temporarily. Hercinger, now on third would score on a Higgins wild pitch and the Hawks had a 4-1 lead.
In the fourth inning CSU added another run to cut the lead in half when Nick Chinners, who led-off with a double, would score on an error by Hercinger that allowed Mike Beattie to reach. The Buccaneers tied the game in the fifth inning, getting two runs on three hits.
Getting a great game out of junior southpaw Mike Roberts has been the norm for the Hawks. Today was no exception. He left after five innings of work having allowed four runs, three earned, walking five and striking out a pair. He kept them in the game until replaced by junior Elliott Arrington. Arrington had been lights out all season out of the bullpen but today wasn't his day.
With the game all tied up CSU took command in the sixth inning. They got three runs off of Arrington on three hits and an error by Pichardo. Keith Hustedt led-off with a walk and was bunted over to second. A single, the error and then a double by Derek Smith would explain the three runs. Smith finished the game with three RBI.
The Buccaneers were up 7-4 but UMES never kept fighting. They scored in the seventh and eighth innings. Orsini scored in the seventh on a Pichardo single and Josh Dunham scored in the eighth on a Hercinger sacrifice fly.
CSU added a run in the eighth to make it an 8-6 final. Anthony Markham got the win in relief while Arrington took the loss in the same capacity.
In game two UMES again struck first. They scored a lone run in the first inning as Vaughn, who walked to lead-off the game, took advantage of two separate errors to score on the pitcher, Tyler Thornburg's, throwing error.
CSU also scored in the first to make it a 1-1 game.
The Buccaneers broke it open in the second inning, plating five runs on four hits off of starter Ken Richardson. Richardson would go on to allow 10 earned runs over five and a third innings of work. He would walk seven along the way to picking up the loss.
The fight from the Hawk bats was still there however as they posted two runs in the sixth inning to make it a 6-3 game. Hercinger led-off with a single to right and after Coppi bunted him over, Pichardo doubled to right to make it second and third with just one out. Deutschmann then singled in Hercinger and put Pichardo on third. Richarson scored on a ground out by Matt Witte for an RBI.
CSU went on to score five runs in the sixth inning, chasing Richardson who was tagged with four runs before leaving after facing five batters and giving up a home run to Steve Antolik. His second allowed in the game. Reliever Dan Sterling would enter for Richardson and work one and two thirds innings, giving up one run.
UMES added their fourth run in the eighth inning when Deutschmann doubled to start the inning, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. CSU match the Hawks' run in the eighth to make the final difference 12-4.
Thornburg got the win in five and third innings of work, allowing three runs, two earned and striking out five.
On the day, the Hawk offense was solid. Vaughn, Orsini, Hercinger and Deutschmann all had three hits combined while Coppi, Pichardo and Dunham had a pair each. Deutschmann had two RBI on the day and Hercinger scored three times. Vaughn and Orsini and two runs each.
UMES returns home to face another tough non-conference test on Tuesday when the Owls of Temple come to town for one game starting at 2:30 p.m.
