March 28, 2010

Box Score

DOVER, Del. - It took until the very last at-bat of the game, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team reached their first win of the season in an 8-7 victory over North Carolina Central University Sunday during the Delaware State Hornet Bash at the Hornets' Nest.

The Lady Hawks got on the scoreboard early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Sophomore Britney McLeod (Palmyra, N.J.) walked in the first at-bat of the game and scored on a wild pitch, stolen base and fielding error by shortstop Nadia Jefferies. Freshman Jasmine James (Willingboro, N.J.) continued her productive weekend by getting a single and eventually scoring off of a wild pitch and single by senior Ashley Johnson (Temple Hills, Md.).

The second inning started off immediately for UMES as junior Miura Lugg (Teaneck, N.J.) singled up the middle, freshman Shanice Crowder (Baltimore, Md.) doubled to right field, McLeod walked and junior Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J.) doubled to left field. Logan was credited with three RBIs as the Lady Hawks finished the inning up, 5-2.

UMES wasted no time scoring more runs in the third inning as Johnson led off with a double to left field and sophomore Cy'Anna Scott (Paterson, N.J.) bunted to advance Johnson to third base. With junior Kyrus Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.) up to bat, Johnson and Scott pulled off a double-steal to go up 6-2.

James scored her second run of the afternoon in the fifth inning after singling to the shortstop, advancing to second on a Johnson walk, moving to third on a passed ball to Scott and coming home off of a Scott sacrifice fly to left field. At the end of five played, the Lady Hawks were ahead, 7-5, over the Lady Eagles.

NCCU scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 7-7 before James scored the most important run of the game to secure victory for UMES.

James led off the seventh with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson. Johnson was safe off of a fielder's choice. Both James and Johnson advanced a base on a throwing error by pitcher Kristen Schooler. With Whitehurst up to bat, Schooler made an illegal pitch, to score James and finalize the game at 8-7 in favor of the Lady Hawks.

Crowder earned her first victory of the season, going 7.0 innings and giving up eight hits, seven runs (three earned), one walk and two strikeouts. With the win, UMES moves to 1-9 on the season. Schooler received the loss for the Lady Eagles as they fall to 5-25.

The Lady Hawks wrapped up the tournament with a loss to host Delaware State, 14-6; however, UMES would not go down without a fight.

Going into the bottom of the second inning, the Lady Hawks were down 2-0. McLeod would tie the game with her bases-loaded single, scoring Scott and Whitehurst.

The Lady Hornets would then score 12 runs combined in the third and fourth innings before UMES would respond in the bottom of the fourth with a home run by Crowder, her first of her career.

The bottom of the fifth inning served as the Lady Hawks last chance and they did not give up as they would score three runs in their half.

The inning started with a single by Logan, who would advance to second on a throwing error by right fielder Breanne Parr. She then scored off of a double to right center by junior Ebony Hahn (Groveport, Ohio). James then singled to right center and advanced to second as Hahn scored the second run of the inning. Johnson would single to left field and James stole third with Scott up to bat. With runners on first and third, Whitehurst singled and scored James before Lugg would hit into a double play to end the game.

In her first career game as a pitcher, Hahn went 3.0 innings, giving up six hits, six runs (four earned), two walks and one strikeout to receive the loss. UMES falls to 1-10 on the season as DSU swept their tournament and improves to 14-8.

The Lady Hawks take the field next on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Norfolk State. The first game of the day begins at 1 p.m.