May 3, 2008

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks dropped the first two games of their series against Howard University, 7-5 and 8-0, in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The loss had bigger implications as UMES entered the day in search of the final Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament seed in the Northern Division. They came in two games back of Morgan State, who wound up splitting their twin bill with Delaware State, securing a conference tournament spot and knocking the Lady Hawks out of postseason contention.

UMES (10-32, 3-10) fell behind early against MEAC foe Howard (19-15, 10-3) in game one, allowing two Lady Bison runs to score in the top of the first inning. Lead-off hitter Brianne Gutierrez began the game with a solo homerun for the visitors. She would add the second run later in the inning on one of two UMES wild pitches.

Lady Hawks' starter Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore./Gresham H.S.) pitched the first four innings of the game, and settled down after the rough start. Truttman would finish with the loss however, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, while walking three and striking out two.

The Lady Hawks got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Howard committed three consecutive errors with one out, eventually allowing Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) to steal home.

Howard would add five runs to their 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning off of UMES reliever Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole H.S.). Gutierrez led off the inning with her second hit of the game, a double to right center. UMES was plagued by fielding troubles, winding up with three errors and allowing Lady Bison base runners to advance often. Catcher Kristina Cordova would take advantage, driving in two runs on a double to left center. She finished with a pair of hits, runs, and RBI

The Lady Hawks would finally come alive at the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and knocking out Howard starter Christina McCoy. Dawnita Leigh (La Plata, Md./College of Southern Maryland) and Kaminine Jeeuth (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monroe College) both recorded RBI singles for UMES to cut the margin to 7-5. The Lady Bison would hang on though, retiring the third out of the inning with the bases loaded.

UMES had a chance to propel themselves to victory as they placed runners on first and third with one down in the final inning of play. However, Howard reliever Dale McNeal, who came on for the last out in the previous frame, would get out of the jam with a strikeout and pop up to end the game. McNeal recorded her first save of the season. McCoy earned the victory, improving to 6-4 on the year; the loss dropped Truttman to 4-12.

Game Two pitted Lady Hawks' starter Marielle Garcia against Howard's Dale McNeal.

After a scoreless first inning, the Lady Bison struck first in the top of the second. Jessica Norwood drove in Emily Johnson with two outs on an RBI double to left field.

That marked the start of a tough outing for Garcia, who would go on to allow eight runs (seven earned) off 12 hits in seven innings of work. She also gave up a walk while sitting down one batter.

Howard would steadily add runs; they scored another in the top of the third, and three more in both the fourth and seventh innings, including a three-run homerun to center from Gutierrez, her second of the day, and a McNeal base hit up the middle that plated two.

The Lady Bison collected 12 hits from eight different batters and was led by Courtney Young with three. Both Candice Tatum and Gutierrez added a pair of base knocks each.

McNeal was solid over six innings on the mound for Howard. UMES would record just six hits and failed to score. Logan again hit well, going two-of-three with a double. The win improved McNeal's overall record to 10-9, while the loss dropped Garcia to 3-10 this season.

UMES will play another doubleheader on Sunday, beginning with conference opponent Morgan State at 10:00 a.m. They will then finish their three game set with the Lady Bison at noon.