March 6, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - After a cancellation earlier in the week, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team opened their home season, this time in an afternoon doubleheader against Coppin State. The Lady Eagles defeated UMES, 3-0, in the first game and continued their winning ways with a 5-3 victory in the second game.
In the first game, Coppin State did the majority of their damage with two outs in the second inning. Stephanie Watts reached on base by an error on first base junior Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J.) and scored on a triple by Tiffani Whaley. Candice Wright then batted Whaley in on a double of her own before the end of the inning.
The Lady Hawks had just three hits in the game, with sophomores Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Britney McLeod (Palmyra, N.J.) in the first and third, respectively, and freshman Jasmine James (Willingboro, N.J.) in the sixth.
UMES had their best chance of scoring in the sixth inning, with a walk by Logan and James' single, but were stranded on base with a pop out to the shortstop by senior Ebony Hahn (Groveport, Ohio).
Both sides went one-two-three in the seventh inning and the Lady Eagles improved to 3-2 on the season while the Lady Hawks fell to 0-5.
Freshman Shanice Crowder (Baltimore, Md.) took the mound in her first start of the season and received the loss, giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and two strikeouts in a complete game.
UMES fared better in the second outing of the day, but it still wasn't enough as CSU scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to sweep the afternoon, 5-3.
The Lady Eagles started off where they left off, scoring two runs on one hit and two errors in the first inning.
The Lady Hawks finally got their offense in tact in the second inning with a lead-off walk by Hahn. She then advanced to second on a ground-out by Crowder and reached third on a stolen base. Sophomore Cy'Anna Scott (Paterson, N.J.) also walked and advanced to second on a stolen base.
Senior Ashley Johnson (Temple Hills, Md.) got on base with a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a single by Inde Whitehurst. Scott scored on the play while Johnson would score off of a single by Logan.
UMES finished the second with two runners left on base, but led, 3-2.
CSU immediately tied up the game at 3-3 with a walk by Jade Dudley, who scored on a double by Nicole Boggs.
The game would remain knotted up at three until the top of the seventh inning when the Lady Eagles scored two runs on four hits and one hit batter.
The Lady Hawks were unable to respond with an answer as pitcher Paige Arnold struck out three of the four batters she faced in the half-inning.
Inde Whitehurst received the loss and gave up nine hits, five runs (three earned) and two walks, while striking out eight in seven innings.
UMES continues to look for their first win of the season as they wrap up the weekend set with Coppin State, 1 p.m. tomorrow at Lady Hawks Field.
