April 18, 2009

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Not since 1996 has the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team seen the better side of 10 wins in a season. After topping Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival Hampton University (HU) 4-1 Saturday afternoon, the Lady Hawks now boast a 15-11 record and sit comfortably in fourth place in the northern division.

UMES scored first, fast and never looked back. Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore.) singled to centerfield and then scored from first base on a double by Ebony Hahn (Groveport, Ohio) in the second inning.

Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J.), who is beginning to peak at the plate for the Lady Hawks, is hitting .500 against MEAC opponents and leads the team in batting average. With one out in the bottom of the third inning, the sophomore sent one to centerfield and grabbed three bases out of the deal for a standup triple.

HU's ace pitcher Amanda Black then walked freshman Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va.). Mills stole second in the first and third situation before Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Canada) hit a 2-run single to right field to give UMES a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Hawks would slip another run across in the fifth inning on a sacrifice bunt by Truttman, who held HU scoreless through six innings, having given up just four hits. Truttman (3-4) struck out five to earn the win.

The seventh and final inning saw the Lady Pirates rally on one out. Ashley Weissenbach doubled to left field and then moved to third on a passed ball. Kelsei Saunders then sent a shot deep to left field that was caught for the second out.

But Weissenbach tagged up and broke across the plate for HU's lone run of the game. The Lady Pirates would get another runner in scoring position before Truttman struck out the side to end the contest.

Black (14-11) received the loss for HU.

UMES is preparing to play their fourth game of the weekend tomorrow against Winston-Salem State University. The double-header action will begin at 11 a.m. on Lady Hawks Field.