April 10, 2008
Box Score
DOVER, Del. - It took five days due to rain and poor field conditions but the series finally came to a close for the University Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball team as they were upended by Delaware State University (DSU) 5-2 on Thursday night.
UMES (7-21, 0-5 MEAC) fell behind first but would keep it close the whole way through as they battled back and forth in the late innings. In the end however, DSU just had enough to get it done as they cranked out 10 hits and took advantage of mistakes from the Lady Hawks who accumulated six base knocks and two costly errors.
Brittney Ruark went the distance to pick up the win for DSU, allowing two runs (one earned) to go along with 10 strikeouts, while Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) gave up five runs (one earned) in the losing effort.
On the offensive end, UMES was led by Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Streetsville Secondary School) who finished two-of-three at the plate, including a triple. Teammate Ashlee Baker (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Tombstone H.S.) was credited with the lone RBI.
Aishia Holloman sparked the DSU offense, going two-of-three in the batter's box, with three RBI. Both Jessica Chrabaszcz and Ruark had two hits apiece, while the latter also had an RBI.
The Lady Hornets struck first in the home half of the third on a Holloman two-out bases loaded double to right center that drove in three runners, all unearned, to give them a 3-0 lead.
UMES would respond the following inning as Saunders led off with a three bagger to right center. A few batters later, Baker would ground out to first to bring in Saunders and cut the margin to 3-1.
Ruark delivered a two out RBI single through the left side that extend the DSU advantage to 4-1 heading into the sixth frame.
Nonetheless, the Lady Hawks would put up a score to trim the lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth after Saunders reached home on a throwing error by the catcher.
DSU came back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the sixth following a Lambertz RBI double down the left field line that made it a 5-2 ballgame heading into the final inning of play.
There would be no comeback for UMES as Ruark struck out the side to end the game.
UMES now returns home to the friendly confines of Lady Hawks Field for a weekend series against Morgan State on April 12 and 13. The action is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on both days with Saturday slated for a doubleheader.
