May 8, 2009
Box Score
CARY, N.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team scored eight runs in the fifth inning to blow open a five-run game, cruising to a 17-5 victory over North Carolina Central at the USA Baseball National Training Complex Friday.
Seven UMES players scored a least one run, three had multiple hits and two had four RBIs each in the Hawks' (13-39) second consecutive win.
The Hawks outhit the Eagles (5-34), 15-12, on the day.
Up, 8-0, in the fifth, sophomore designated hitter Bryan Chaikowsky (Bethlehem, Pa.) belted a grand slam to right field for his second home run of the season. Chaikowsky also had two runs and two walks in four at-bats.
Sophomore right fielder Franklin Armstrong (Trenton, N.J.) was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, while sophomore third baseman Elliott Alston (Littleton, Colo.) went 3-for-5 with three runs and one driven in. reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week Ben Vasko (San Diego, Calif.) was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, four runs and one RBI.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Witte (Westminster, Md.) threw six strong innings to improve to 3-4 on the year. He scattered six hits and one run while striking out five with no walks. Junior Jervonta' Wright (Salisbury, Md.) tossed the final three frames to earn his first save.
The Hawks loaded the bases on three hits with two out in the top of the second when Vasko sent a sharp single through the middle to score Armstrong and go up, 1-0.
After a Phil Vaughn (Clinton, Md.) packed the sacks once more, Josh Dunham (Des Moines, Iowa) laced a single through the right side, plating Vasko and Alston.
Dunham and Orsini drove in two more UMES runs in fourth. Dunham picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to second and Orsini flew out to left field to again score Vasko.
Pat Hercinger (Papillion, Neb.) opened the fifth with a single up the middle and stole second. He moved to third on a groundout and Armstrong hit his fourth triple to make it 6-0. Alston followed with a base knock through the left side to pick up Armstrong and take a seven-run advantage.
Vasko then singled to right and moved to second on the throw. Vaughn then drew a free pass to load the bases, while signaled the end of the day for N.C. Central starter Jeff Citero (1-9). James Jordan came in and hit with a pitch to score Alston. He then allowed a bunt single to Orsini to make it 9-0 and set the stage for Chaikowsky's bomb, the second grand slam of the season for the Hawks.
The Hawks tacked on four more in the top of the sixth to take their biggest lead at 17-0 on RBIs by Orsini, Hercinger, Russel Deutschmann (Baden, Ontario) and Armstrong.
The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard in their half of the inning. Robert Grant led off with a single but was erased on a fielder's choice from Ahkeem Hood. Oliver Jenkins promptly doubled to right-center field to score Hood.
Wright began the seventh on the mound and surrendered a triple to Kurt Wilson. Wilson scored when Edward Pegues grounded out to shortstop for a 17-2 deficit.
The Eagles tallied three more in the eighth but could get no closer.
Citero went 4.1 innings, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits, four walks and a strike out for the loss.
Wilson was 3-for-4 for NCCU and Hood scored twice for the hosts.
The teams close the series with two seven-inning games beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.
