April 26, 2008
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks defeated conference foe Coppin State University (CSU) in a doubleheader this afternoon, 9-0, and 14-1.
The Lady Hawks (9-30, 2-8 MEAC) came into the day in need of a victory, having dropped their last 17 games. The Lady Eagles (0-32, 0-10 MEAC) have yet to win a game this season.
Game one pitted UMES starting pitcher sophomore Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) against CSU's Nichae Alston.
After two scoreless innings the Lady Hawks came alive at the plate, scoring all nine of their runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch H.S.) lead off the frame by reaching base after being hit by a pitch. She would later score after freshman Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J./ Trenton Catholic Academy) recorded an RBI double.
Two batters later, Truttman singled to left field with the bases loaded, driving in two runs. Truttman would finish the game two-of-three at the plate, while driving in another run later in the inning.
The Lady Hawks would finish the game with seven total hits, with six different players contributing, including Brooke Downey who had a double, along with three RBI.
Truttman pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters and walking two. The win was her fifth of the season.
The game was completed after five innings, due to the eight run "Mercy" rule. CSU's Alston worked four innings, giving up nine runs, all earned, while striking out five and walking six.
UMES' victory marked the first of the year against a MEAC opponent.
CSU would grab an early 1-0 lead in game two, scoring in the top of the first inning. Danyel Davis hit a one-out double off of UMES starting pitcher Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/ North Pole H.S.). After advancing to third base on a groundout, Davis would score the Lady Eagles' lone run on a Jade Dudley RBI single. Davis finished with a couple of hits.
The Lady Hawks would take the lead for good in the bottom of the first inning. Carlos would draw a lead-off walk and then steal second base. She would then score to tie the game at one off a Heineken RBI double.
After allowing a second walk, CSU's starting pitcher Stephanie Watts was moved to third base, and Alston, the Lady Eagles' game one starter, came on in relief. Watts, in her fifth appearance of the season earned her second loss, giving up one hit and two earned runs.
The Lady Hawks were aggressive on the base paths throughout both games. Alston came on with UMES runners on first and third. In a successful double-steal attempt Logan was called safe after swiping second, allowing Heineken to steal home and score from third.
Truttman would then hit into a double play, clearing the bases. UMES would keep the inning going by recording back-to-back doubles courtesy of Dawnita Leigh (Hughesville, Md./ College of Southern Maryland) and Ashley Johnson (Temple Hills, Md./ Bishop McNamara H.S.). Leigh would score on the Johnson RBI.
The inning marked the start of another terrific offensive afternoon. The Lady Hawks added four more runs in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 9-1.
UMES would also score two runs in the third and three more in the fourth, finishing with 14 runs off 10 hits from eight different batters in four innings. CSU committed four errors in the field, compared to three by UMES.
Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) paced the Lady Hawks with a pair of hits, three RBI, and a run, while Heineken added a base knock, plated two, and scored three runs.
Heineken was lights out on the mound after giving up the lone run in the first. In five innings of work, she allowed just one run on three hits, striking out seven while walking one. The win was her third of the season.
The two teams will meet in a doubleheader again Sunday afternoon. Game one begins at 1:00 p.m. Only the first game will count as a MEAC conference game.
