April 2, 2008
Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball team combined for eight hits and one run en route to a pair of non-conference losses against Norfolk State University (NSU) on Wednesday at NSU Softball Field.
UMES (7-18) scored their only run of the afternoon in the opener, a 9-1 five inning defeat to the Spartans. NSU cranked out 10 hits and committed one error while the Lady Hawks had four and three, respectively.
Ky Brown went the distance to pick up the win for NSU, giving up one earned run and striking out six, while Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) threw four hard innings for UMES as she gave up nine runs (six earned) in the losing effort.
The Lady Hawks were led offensively by Kaminine Jeeuth (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monroe College) who finished a perfect two-of-two at the plate. Teammate Jaleesa Lewis (Milford, Del./Milford H.S.) went one-of-two with an RBI, while Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) claimed the other hit.
NSU had a well-rounded performance on offense as nine different batters had hits, while six recorded RBIs. Micki Rodriguez ignited the Spartan offense by going a perfect two-of-two, with a run and RBI.
The Spartans took an early 2-0 lead after picking up runs on a Rodriguez RBI single in the first and a Garcia balk in the second which scored Amelia Lewis.
A Meghan Ramsey base hit to center in the bottom half of the third sparked a six run inning that was capped off by a Jewel White RBI single up the middle to give them an 8-0 advantage.
NSU tacked on one more score in the fourth off a Rebecca Barnes solo homerun before the Lady Hawks put up a run in the fifth on a Lewis base hit through the right side that drove in Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Ranch, Calif./Diamond Ranch H.S.) to cut the margin to 9-1. Nonetheless, Brown would put down the side to effectively end the game due to the mercy rule.
Game two was a near mirror image of the opener as UMES collected four hits to the Spartans eight as they were blanked 9-0 in six innings.
Sarah Wittwer threw five shutout innings to post the win for NSU, allowing three hits and tossing out four, while Truttman took the loss for the Lady Hawks, giving up nine runs (seven earned) to go along with four strikeouts in five innings of duty.
UMES was paced by Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Streetsville Secondary School) with two hits, including a double. Both Carlos and Truttman added a hit apiece.
Rodriguez continued her solid day in the batter's box for the Spartans, going two-of-three, with four RBIs and a run. Jacklyn Peaton and White had a couple of hits, two runs, and an RBI each.
NSU would use a six run second inning, which included a Rodriguez base hit to right center that brought home a pair of runners, to jump ahead 6-0.
The Spartans would add another run in the fifth on a Truttman wild pitch that scored Peaton and then two more in the sixth off a Rodriguez game-ending double to right field.
UMES will now travel to Dover for a three-game set against MEAC rival Delaware State on April 5 and 6. The action is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. on both days, with Saturday scheduled for a doubleheader.
