April 19, 2008

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) entered Saturday looking for momentum going into the second part of the season, but came up just shy in a pair of non-conference losses to Delaware State University (DSU) at Lady Hawks Field.

UMES (7-27) found themselves down early in the opener but rallied to tie things up before falling 9-3 to the Lady Hornets.

On the hill, Megan Lambertz was credited with the complete game win for DSU, allowing three earned runs and six hits, while Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole H.S.) gave up nine runs (seven earned) and 15 hits in the losing cause.

Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) led the way for UMES on the offensive end with a double and all three RBI.

DSU had 10 different batters contribute, including Jessica Chrabaszcz who finished two-of-four at the plate, with two RBI and a run. Jo Jo Shields also added three hits, two runs, and an RBI.

A couple of back-to-back RBI triples from Shields and Courtney Taylor put the Lady Hornets on the board first in the top of one at 3-0.

However, the Lady Hawks would tie the game on a bases clearing double to left center from Logan in the bottom of the third inning.

The Lady Hornets quickly regained the lead in the next inning as Chrabaszcz crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

A three error fifth inning by UMES would open the door for DSU and they capitalized to the tune of four runs, including an RBI single from Chrabaszcz that was followed by a Manal Ahmed base knock up the middle to plate two more and give the Lady Hornets an 8-3 cushion.

An insurance run from DSU in the final inning provided all the run support they would need as Lambertz got out of the jam in the home half, leaving three Lady Hawks stranded to end the game.

Perhaps feeling disappointed in the outcome of game one, UMES wasted no time securing the lead in the second part of the twin bill. The Lady Hawks were up five runs and seemed to be cruising along until DSU struck with a seven-run fourth inning, which proved to be the deciding factor in an 11-6 decision.

Andrea Waters earned the win for the Lady Hornets, allowing just one earned run and four hits in three and two third innings of relief.

Unfortunately, Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) did not fare as well after taking a no hitter into the fourth. Garcia was charged with the loss as gave up seven earned runs and seven hits all in the same inning.

UMES' four through six hitters were responsible for majority of the damage on offense as they combined for six hits, all six RBI, and pair of runs. Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) pounded out two hits, plated three, and also scored a run to lead the charge.

The Lady Hawks took a 3-0 advantage in the first inning following a Truttman double to right center that drove in a couple and a Heineken single to right which score another. Heineken finished with three hits and plated one.

A Dawnita Leigh (Hughesville, Md./College of Southern Maryland) two-run shot, her second of the season, to left field in the home half of the third increased the UMES margin to 5-0.

Things would go south in a hurry for UMES as Shields sparked a rally in the fourth with an RBI double through the right side of the infield to put the Lady Hornets in the books. Taylor followed with a base hit that scored the second of the frame which set the stage for a Chrabaszcz grand slam to left, giving DSU their first lead of the game at 6-5. They capped off the inning with one more run.

Showing resilience, the Lady Hawks came back with one of their own on a Truttman single through the left side that brought home Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch H.S.) and cut the margin to 7-6 heading into the fifth inning.

Nonetheless, DSU carried their momentum over into the fifth and sixth innings as they added two scores in each, including a Demers solo homerun in the top of six.

The Lady Hawks never seemed to recover and did not make a dent in the score the rest of the way.

UMES will now head down the road for a single game affair against Hampton on Sunday, April 20 at 11:00 a.m. The conference contest is a make-up date from a postponement earlier this season.