May 2, 2009
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) couldn't seem to get the bats going in their final weekend home series. Having completed their conference schedule the Hawks hosted Longwood in games one and two of a four game weekend series and came up short on the first day, falling 8-5 and 13-0 in the two contests.
The Hawks (11-37) played a solid first game. After starter Cameron Zimmerman (Harrisburg, Pa.) gave up six runs in the first two innings he settled in beautifully, not allowing another run until the seventh. That gave UMES plenty of time to get their bats going, but they managed just one run in the second and two in the fifth to cut the lead in half. Longwood posted another run in the seventh and one in the ninth, matched by lone Hawk runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
A large part of the reason for the struggling offense was the starting pitching of the Lancers. John Walker II threw a masterful game, earning the win by going a complete nine innings, allowing 11 hits, five runs and walking just one batter the entire game. He struck out five and had great control of the plate. Walker was so effective that he never reached the 100 pitch mark until the eighth inning.
Still, he made a few mistakes that the Hawks were able to capitalize on. Josh Dunham (Des Moines, Iowa) and Bryan Chiakowsky (Bethlehem, Pa.) both had three hits each in the game. Both also added a run and an RBI to their season totals. Michael Guy (Lake Ariel, Pa.), getting the start at catcher, made the most of his play, going 2-4 with a run and an RBI while Remo Orsini was also solid, going 1-3 with two RBI.
UMES made four errors in the game, leading to Zimmerman getting tagged with just six earned runs of the eight scored and receiving the loss.
Zimmerman was replaced in the ninth inning by freshmen John DesChamps (Virginia Beach, Va.) who worked a scoreless inning. He was the only substitute for either team in the game.
Longwood (23-17) had four players collect two hits each in game one. Phil Cerreto added three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Both of his hits were doubles. Brant Jones scored three times and leadoff man Scott Kimble had two runs and an RBI.
It was all Lancers in game two. Senior Brian White (Virginia Beach, Va.) earned the nod for UMES. The veteran was starting what should be his final game at Hawks Stadium. He started well. Longwood was able to squeeze out a run in the first inning when Kimble scored on a Cerreto sacrifice fly. White held them off the scoreboard in the second inning but ran into trouble in the third.
Cerreto was at the start of it, singling to lead off the inning. He was followed by back-to-back fly outs and it seemed that White was through another inning until Longwood put together a two out rally. Cerreto stole second, was singled home by David Smiy Jr. and the Lancers were in business. They plated four more runs off of White and made it a five run deficit after three for UMES. That was something they were not able to recover from, handing White his seventh loss of the year.
Longwood would touch up reliever Carl Huber (Mount Airy, Md.) for two runs in the fourth and five in the fifth, all earned for the junior, who worked two and a third innings. Huber's velocity was on as he notched four strike outs but his location faltered and forced hitter's counts that led to several hits.
Who else but Cerreto would be the cause of Huber's headache? Cerreto homered to left to start the fourth and catcher Jonathan Quigley would also go yard in the fifth. Cerreto was an impressive 4-4 in the game with three runs and three RBI. He added a double to his home run and recorded a sac fly and a stolen base. Kimble was also 4-4 in the game with three runs while Casey Havers was 3-4 with a pair of runs and RBI.
The Lancers stole five bases in game two alone, eight on the day.
The Hawks managed just seven hits in the game while leaving the same amount on base. Longwood was close to doing even more damage leaving 11 men on base.
UMES' seven hits were scattered around. They had just one extra base hit, that coming from Chaikowsky in the form of a double to left center in the sixth. He was a perfect 3-3 in game two. Dunham, Guy, Pat Hercinger (Papillion, Neb.) and Ben Vasko (San Diego, Calif.) accounted for the remaining base knocks.
Chris Briere got the win for the Lancers. Like his game one counterpart Walker, he was sharp, going a complete game seven innings, allowing the seven hits, striking out seven and walking no one.
The same two teams wrap up the final weekend at Hawks Stadium tomorrow, Sunday May 3, with a double header starting at noon. They are scheduled for nine innings in game one and seven in game two. Tomorrow is also senior day for the Hawks as they will honor seven seniors in a ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m.
