April 13, 2008

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - After postponing day one due to inclement weather, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball team returned to the field but came away disappointed as they lost both ends of a doubleheader to Morgan State University (MSU) on a cold overcast Sunday afternoon at Lady Hawks Field.

The Lady Hawks perhaps feeling the effects of having to wait an extra day to play started slow and MSU took advantage jumping out to an early lead en route to an 8-2 defeat of the home team in the series opener. UMES (7-23, 0-7 MEAC) did not record a hit until the fourth inning but ended with five compared to nine by the Lady Bears.

Megan Johnson earned the complete game win for MSU, allowing two earned runs while striking out five. On the opposite end of the mound, Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) took the loss as she gave up eight runs (five earned) to go along with nine strike outs in six innings of duty.

Offensively, UMES was paced by Truttman who helped her own cause by going one-of-three at the plate with an RBI. Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole H.S.) also added a score, while teammate Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Streetsville Secondary School) picked up a hit, run, and a walk.

Tamra Griffin led the way for MSU, finishing two-of-three in the batter's box, including a pair of doubles, with three RBI and two runs. Megan Jimenez also had a solid day hitting the ball, going three-of-four with a couple of extra base hits on top of an RBI and stolen base, while Dominisha Britton added four runs, three stolen bases, and a hit.

MSU got on the board first on the heels of a Griffin two-out RBI double to left field that was followed by a Carolynn Howard single up the middle that scored another run to give them a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Bears would add three more runs, including two of which were scored on errors, in the top half of the third. They capped off the inning with a Jimenez RBI double to center which extended their margin to 5-0.

In the fourth inning, MSU added another insurance run before coming back in the sixth with two more on a Griffin double to left field to score a pair of runners and make it 8-0 in favor of the visitors.

UMES would break the dry spell with two runs in the home half of the sixth off a Truttman single to right field which drove in Saunders and a Heineken bases loaded RBI on a fielder's choice by the second baseman to cut the advantage to 8-2.

However, they would get no closer as Johnson took care of the last surge to end the game. The Lady Hawks left eight on base whereas MSU stranded seven.

Game two was tightly contested for majority of the contest before the Lady Hawks surrendered three critical runs in the latter stages which proved too much to overcome as they fell 7-3 to MSU.

Porsche Boddicker was credited with the win, giving up three runs (two earned) to go along with five toss outs, while Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) allowed seven runs (four earned) in the losing cause.

Truttman went one-of-three, with two RBI and a run to pace the Lady Hawks.

MSU was once more led by the hot bat of Griffin who finished a perfect two-of-two at the plate, with two RBI, a run, and walk. Both Ashley Vasquez and Johnson had two RBI apiece as they added two runs and two hits, respectively.

The Lady Bears wasted no time as they put up two runs in the first off back-to-back RBI from Vasquez and Griffin for a quick 2-0 lead.

UMES would respond though with three scores in the bottom of the inning, including a Truttman double to right center that brought home Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and Saunders, to go ahead 3-2 heading into the second.

A Griffin RBI base hit to center field capped off a two run third inning for MSU as they regained a 4-3 advantage.

Boddicker stretched the Lady Bears margin to 5-3 on a RBI single up the middle in the sixth, which was followed by a Johnson two-out double to left field that scored a couple of more runners going into the final home stand.

The Lady Hawks would proceed to load the bases with Saunders at bat, but she was forced into a fielder's choice to second base to conclude the game.

UMES will remain at home for a non-conference doubleheader with Norfolk State on Wednesday April 16 starting at 1:00 p.m.