April 27, 2008
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Elements proved no problem for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks as they completed a three-game sweep of Coppin State University (CSU) on Saturday afternoon, 18-3, despite heavy rain in the area.
UMES (10-30, 3-8 MEAC) picked up their third consecutive victory that moved them within two games of Morgan State in the northern division standings for the final spot in the conference tournament. The Lady Eagles (0-33, 0-11 MEAC) remained winless on the year.
The game featured UMES' Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) against CSU's Nichae Alston.
CSU jumped ahead to a 1-0 lead in the first following a Joyce Castro ground out to second base that drove in Mia Willis.
However, the Lady Hawks would answer in a big way as they connected on six hits for 11 runs in the home half of the first. Highlighting the inning was an Ashley Stewart (Princess Anne, Md./Holly Grove C.S.) two RBI single to left field and a Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole H.S.) grand-slam to left center. Stewart chipped in with three runs as well.
The Lady Eagles narrowed the margin to 11-3 in the second frame after back-to-back RBI from Willis and Danyel Davis, which came on a sacrifice fly and base hit, respectively. They would not score again and added just one more hit.
Tiana Strother (Upper Marlboro, Md./Charles H. Flowers H.S.) started the scoring for UMES in the bottom of two with a triple to left center that brought home Stewart and Brooke Downey (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico H.S.). The inning was capped off on an RBI sacrifice fly from Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) to give the Lady Hawks a 15-3 advantage.
UMES upped their cushion to 17-3 in the third via Heineken who notched her season-high fifth RBI of the game on a base knock up the middle to bring in Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch H.S.). Heineken finished two-of-three at the plate, and added a run and walk.
The Lady Hawks tacked on their final score in the fourth inning prior to the game being called in the fifth due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Garcia strolled to a complete game win on the mound for the UMES, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) in 22 batters faced. The win was her third of the season.
Offensively, eight different batters collected hits and RBI for the Lady Hawks, including Carlos who had two one baggers, a season-high four runs, and a couple of steals. Truttman, Stewart, and Strother each plated two runs apiece.
CSU's Alston gave up 10 hits, 18 runs (eight earned), and walked nine batters in the losing effort.
UMES concludes their season with a four-game home stand against Howard and Morgan State on May 3 and 4. They face Howard three out of the four times, including a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. They then open up with Morgan State in a make-up game on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. before taking on the Lady Bison immediately thereafter.
