April 25, 2010
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team scored runs in bunches to defeat Florida A&M, 17-10, and take the rubber match of a three-game set at Moore-Kittles Field Sunday.
UMES (4-34, 3-11 MEAC) tallied 14 runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings - breaking the contest open with seven in the sixth frame alone - and staved off a late FAMU (8-26-1, 1-11) charge. Down, 16-4, entering the bottom of the seventh, the Rattlers scored six but could get no closer as Cameron Zimmerman (Harrisburg, Pa.) closed the game out with three inning for his first save of the season.
The win moves the Hawks into possession of the sixth and final spot for the upcoming MEAC Tournament four games remaining on the conference schedule.
Junior Bryan Chaikowsky (Bethlehem, Pa.) led the UMES offense, going 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs, while senior Phil Vaughn (Clinton, Md.) was 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored. Junior J.J. Corriveau (Hollywood, Fla.) scored twice and drove in four runs.
UMES outhit FAMU, 17-12, and received multiple-hit outings from five players. Six players scored more than one run on the day as well.
Sophomore Karim Gonzalez (Mexico City, Mexico) threw six strong innings to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed seven hits and seven runs (five earned), striking out three and walking five.
Leading, 5-1, in the top of the sixth, UMES struck for seven runs in the sixth, send 15 men to the plate. Elliott Alston (Littleton, Colo.) and Lucas Koenig (Berlin, Md.) each collected one-out RBI singles off FAMU starting pitcher Steve Dollar before Courtney Goner relieved him with two outs in the inning. Goner was greeted by a two-run single by Corriveau to second base for a 10-1 advantage. Lorenzo Christy (Germantown, Md.) followed with a base hit to center to plate Vaughn and Chaikowsky then singled to bring home Christy for a 12-1 edge.
The Rattlers got three runs back in the bottom of the inning but the Hawks kept the offense coming with four more in the seventh on an RBI walk from Corriveau, a sacrifice fly by Christy and an RBI single and double by Chaikowsky and Alston respectively to push the score to 16-4.
Chaikowsky recorded a one-out double to right to score Christy again for the Hawks final run of the afternoon.
Dollar (3-6) took the loss for FAMU pitching 5.2 innings and surrendering 11 runs on 10 hits and eight walks.
UMES struck first in the opening inning when Vaughn led off with a triple to left field and Corriveau followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Hawks added an unearned run in the second to take a 2-0 lead. After the Rattlers retired the first two batters of the inning, shortstop Reginald Grant's throw sailed high as Luis Mena (Cape Coral, Fla.) reached. He then moved up on a passed ball, went to third on another Grant error and was chased home on a wild pitch from Dollar.
UMES made it 5-0 in the fifth. Chaikowsky started the inning with a double to left-center field and with Donnie Haines (Carneys Point, N.J.) on first after a walk, Koenig doubled to center with one out to score Chaikowsky. Shaquille Bagwell (Atlantic, Va.) and Vaughn rounded out he scoring in the inning with a sac fly and single.
The Hawks return home Tuesday, April 27 for a non-conference doubleheader against Lehigh beginning at noon.
