April 1, 2009
BALTIMORE, Md. - Having won the first game 7-4, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team completed its double-header sweep of Coppin State University (CSU) Wednesday evening in style. The Lady Hawks bested CSU 16-2 in the night cap after knocking in 13 runs on nine hits, including three triples and three doubles, in the top of the fifth inning.
Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.) earned the first UMES win. She pitched a complete seven inning game, striking out nine and giving up four runs. Whitehurst (4-3) only walked three of the 32 batters faced and allowed nine hits.
Freshmen Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va.) and Kristi Miranda (Houston, Texas) carried big bats for the Lady Hawks, rocking one solo homer each in the first game. CSU responded to Mills' first inning homerun with one of their own. Pitcher Paige Arnold hit a two run long ball over the left fielders head to put the Lady Eagles up 2-1.
Unfazed, UMES nearly batted around in the second inning. Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore.) led off with a single before Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, Calif.) started a two out rally that saw four more hits and four runs score. Miranda's homerun in the fourth gave the Lady Hawks a 6-2 lead. CSU would squeeze in two more runs but fall short of victory. Arnold pitched all seven innings of the loss, giving up 10 hits.
The fifth inning of the finale was magical for UMES. Mills, who went 5-for-7 on the day, started the inning with a triple and then scored on a single by Truttman. Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J.) was due for a hit after going 0-6 at the plate against Arnold. The sophomore delivered, knocking in Truttman with a single. The Lady Eagles then made a change on the mound. Center fielder Veronica Pope took over for Arnold.
UMES continued to pound the ball. Cassandra Carlos (Norwalk, Calif.) hit a two run double as the Lady Hawks batted around in the lineup. Mills, hitting for the second time in the inning, rocked another triple, knocking in two more runs.
Logan then hit a two run double with the bases loaded before Nelson sent her home as part of a two-run triple. CSU began to make a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Lady Hawks would only allow one runner to score before closing the door and grabbing their 11th win of the season.
Truttman (3-3) earned the win for UMES, striking out seven on the day and CSU's Arnold (3-13) received the loss, having pitched 4.1 innings.
The Lady Hawks are preparing to take on Delaware State University on April 4-5. It will be their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference home opener and the first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
