March 21, 2008

Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. - Following an impressive two games to open up the tournament the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks Softball team showcased their offensive skills in an 18-6 five inning walloping against Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) on Friday at Briarfield Park.

UMES improved to 5-12 overall and bested last year's win total (4) a little under halfway through the season. Eight different Lady Hawk batters recorded hits and RBIs as they put up an amazing 14 runs, 18 earned altogether, in perhaps one of the finest first innings in collegiate softball this year or ever for that matter.

Freshman Ashlee Baker (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Tombstone H.S.) ignited the charge for the Lady Hawks as she finished a perfect 3-3 with four RBIs, all in the first, and two runs on the day. Shakeyah Habib (Lanham, Md./Parkdale H.S.) also went perfect at the plate going 2-2 with three RBIs and a pair of runs, while teammate Jaleesa Lewis (Milford, Del./Milford H.S.) added three RBIs, two hits, and two runs as well. Not to be outdone, Ashley Johnson (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop McNamara H.S.) and Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) chipped in with three and two RBIs, respectively, while both adding a pair of runs and a hit each. Rounding out the hitting and scoring were Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Streetsville Secondary School), Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College), and Kaminine Jeeuth (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monroe College) who each had an RBI and at least one hit with Saunders and Garcia doubling up.

Garcia who also got the start for UMES pitched a gem, allowing just one earned run on three hits to go along with a pair of strikeouts in three innings of work. Dawnita Leigh (Hughesville, Md./College of Southern Maryland) made her first appearance out of the bullpen and gave up four earned runs and six hits while striking out two.

Unfortunately, Garcia's opposition on the mound, Asha Martin, did not have the same performance. Martin gave up an unheard of 18 earned runs and 14 hits while walking 10 and striking out only one.

ECSU managed nine hits and six runs in the final three innings but it was not enough. Most of the damage came from the top of the order, batters one through three, as they combined for five hits, three RBIs, and five runs. Maishiyah Brown had the biggest game, finishing a perfect 3-3 with two RBIs and a run.

The Lady Hawks jumped all over ECSU in the first as Lewis, the second batter of the game, hit a two-run homerun to put UMES in the scoring column. Baker followed suit with a bases loaded single to bring in two runs. With three on and no out, Habib would double to center to score a couple of more runs and make it 6-0. Johnson then drew a walk which brought home yet another run. Lewis in her second at-bat of the inning would deliver once more with an RBI single. Still, with nobody out and the bases full, Logan kept the rally alive as she doubled in two more runners. Saunders would put one more on the board before the Lady Vikings recorded their first out of the inning with the score 11-0. Continuing the surge was Baker who added two more RBIs to her total with a base hit. Habib would bring in the final run of the inning on a catcher's interference call that extended the lead to 14-0 with only one down. The remaining two runners were caught stealing to end the first.

Kim Bailey gave the Lady Vikings their first score of the game on an RBI base hit in the top half of the third inning.

Nonetheless, UMES would not let up as they poured on four more runs in the third. Garcia and Jeeuth singled in a run each, while Johnson brought home two more on a base hit that made it 18-1 heading into the fourth inning.

In the fourth inning, the Lady Vikings added their second run of the contest. They would score four more in the fifth, including a Cekea Cox triple to center field that scored a deuce and a Brown solo homerun, before the game was called due to the mercy rule.

UMES looks to carryover their hot hitting into tomorrow as they begin bright and early with a matchup against Morgan State at 9:00 a.m.