March 10, 2009

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Two homeruns, three triples and three doubles on the day are a big reason the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team improved their win streak to four over North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The Lady Hawks (4-2) topped the NCCU 9-6 and 7-2 in their home opener.

Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore.) earned her first win of the season pitching five innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ebony Hahn (Groveport, Ohio) hit a two out, two run single to left field that put UMES up 6-1 before the Lady Hawks grounded out to end the inning. NCCU responded with a rally of their own. Cuing in on relief pitcher Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.), the Lady Eagles scored four runs on five hits to pull within one run, 6-5.

Composed, the Lady Hawks ended the NCCU run and Dawnita Leigh (Hughesville, Md.) slammed a three run double to left center pushing UMES back on top 9-5. A sac fly by Tia Kirby was all the Lady Eagles could get together in the final inning. Kristen Schooler took the loss for NCCU.

Kristi Miranda (Houston, Texas) continued her stellar play in the box for the Lady Hawks. She was 4-for-6 in the double header, hitting two triples and a double in the night cap. Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va.) grabbed her second consecutive win, pitching a complete seven innings.

The Lady Eagles were held scoreless with just three hits in the second half of the double header until the fifth inning when they drove in two runs on three hits to put the score at 4-2.

Cassandra Carlos (Norwalk, Calif.) singled to left field with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Miranda tripled to center, scoring Carlos, and then scored on a wild pitch by Michelle Ishida, who took the second loss for NCCU.

Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, Calif.), Truttman, Carlos and Mills were among the heavy hitters in the wins. Nelson hit her first collegiate homerun, Truttman cranked out a homer of her own along with a double, Carlos stretched out a triple and Mills knocked one in left field for a double.

UMES travels to face Norfolk State University on March 11 in double-header action. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 1 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.