March 17, 2009

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team was in danger of dropping three straight contests for the first time this season as they headed into the final game of their double-header against Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Tuesday afternoon. After dropping the first game 8-4, UMES put together two four run innings to take the Lady Rams 9-5 in the finale and improve their record to 6-4.

Freshman Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.) received the first game loss for UMES, pitching six innings.

Down 2-1, with one out in the top of the third inning, Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Canada) hit a two run triple putting UMES up 3-2. She then scored on a passed ball before the end of the inning.

The Lady Hawks led 4-3 all the way to the bottom of the fifth inning. After the Lady Rams scored the tying run on a dropped fly ball, WSSU pitcher Amber Shore then hit an RBI triple to right field. She would score on a wild pitch to put the Lady Rams up 6-4. Shore (4-4) held the Lady Hawks scoreless for four straight innings to secure the win.

UMES started off strong in the second game. Taking advantage of WSSU miscues in the first inning, Saunders helped jump the Lady Hawks off to a 4-0 lead, knocking in two runs and eventually scoring herself.

The third inning saw Shore substitute back in on the mound for the Lady Rams after Elyon Taylor gave up five runs on four hits in two innings. UMES continued to pound the ball, loading the bases before Ashley Johnson (Temple Hills, Md.) hit a two run double to center field with one out. The Lady Hawks scored two more to go ahead 8-1.

Hannah Mills (Parkley, Va.) pitched a complete seven innings for her third win of the season. The freshman leads the Lady Hawks with a 2.33 ERA.

UMES heads to the Hampton University Tournament in Hampton, Va. March 20-22. They will see host Hampton in their first game on March 20 at 2 p.m. before taking on University at Buffalo at 6 p.m.