March 11, 2009

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team split their double-header with Norfolk State University (NSU) 7-4, 5-3 in non-conference play this afternoon. The loss breaks a five game win streak for the Lady Hawks who boast a 5-3 record.

Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, Calif.) hit a double and Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.) earned the win in the first game. Casey Pomeroy (1-2) took the loss for the Lady Spartans.

A strong third inning helped push UMES to victory. Cassandra Carlos (Norwalk, Calif.) reached on an error, and back-to-back singles by Kristi Miranda (Houston, Texas) and Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va.) scored Carlos and put Miranda in scoring position at third. Miranda scored and Mills moved to second on a double steal play, and a single by Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Canada) scored Mills, jumping the Lady Hawks out to a 4-2 lead. They would score two more runs in the sixth inning to hold onto their lead and take the win.

UMES had trouble stringing hits together in the second game, however. Tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, NSU's Jeanette Sauceda reached on an error by Miranda and advanced to second in the same play. After the next batter walked, Danielle Wright hit a three run homerun over the center field fence clearing the bases and putting NSU up 4-1.

The Lady Hawks couldn't respond to the run and dropped the second game. Alyssa Velazquez (8-2) received the win for NSU and Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore.), who took the loss for UMES, falls to 1-2.

On the road still, the Lady Hawks face Winston-Salem State University on March 17. The double-header against the Lady Rams starts at 3 p.m.