Feb. 28, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- As UMES students and alumni gathered in Princess Anne for Homecoming 2011, the Hawks looked to defend the Eastern Shore as they hosted Howard in the Hytche Athletic Center. Meanwhile, baseball began their first homestand of the season and golf played their second tournament of the year in Daytona Beach.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
In front of 5,500 fans, the largest crowd in Princess Anne this season, the Hawks came back from down 12 points to defeat Howard 73-63 on Saturday. This is the second year in a row the Hawks have won on Homecoming, defeating Coppin State last season. UMES improves to 7-21 on the season and 4-10 in the MEAC.
Hillary Haley (Oxon Hill, Md.) earned the Jesse T. Williams Homecoming Hawk Award, scoring 26 points with five rebounds in 39 minutes played. Tyler Hines (Sicklerville, N.J.) and Mark Robertson (Lakewood, N.J.) each scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Lady Hawks had a comeback of their own against Howard, rallying from down eight to win over the Lady Bison 53-50 on Saturday in front of the Homecoming crowd. This win improves UMES's record to 9-18 overall and 6-8 in the MEAC.
Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) had another strong performance with 14 points and three steals. Chelsea Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) and Amber Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
BASEBALL
The Hawks baseball team kicked off their nine-game homestand this week at Hawks Stadium. After falling to George Washington 8-0 on Wednesday, the Hawks came back from down six runs to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson in game one of a doubleheader 9-8. UMES would fall in the second game 3-2 in seven innings. The Hawks stand at 1-5 this year.
Elliott Alston (Littleton, Colo.) got the first walk-off of the year with an RBI single to right to score James Newsome (Mechanicsville, Md.) in the bottom of the ninth. Thanks to a strong week, Tre-Von Johnson (East New Market, Md.) has started the season with an average of .391 and three extra base hits.
GOLF
In a competition against many MEAC schools, the Hawks placed 7th in the Bethune-Cookman Spring Invitational, their strongest finish so far in the spring season. UMES finished with a team score of 1,077, +213 over par. Tournament host BCU took the victory in the event.
Michael Veverka (Brunswick, Md.) led the Hawks with a 16th place individual finish, getting a score 235 (+19). Christopher Toney (La Plata, Md.) earned a 27th place finish, shooting a 257 (+41).
UPCOMING WEEK (FEB. 28-MAR. 6)
The Hawks men's and women's basketball teams will finish the regular season with Senior Night in the Hytche Athletic Center. UMES will face rival Delaware State on Thursday, March 3rd. The women start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men's tip off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the doubleheader are just ten dollars. Both games will be broadcast on the Hawks Radio Network.
Those indoor track athletes who qualified for the IC4A/ECAC Championship will get their chance to compete against strong competition in Boston this weekend. The two day event will begin on Saturday, March 5th and conclude Sunday, March 6th.
UMES baseball will conclude their nine-game homestand this week with six contests at Hawks Stadium. The Hawks will play against Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday at 11:00 a.m., a double header against Longwood on Tuesday beginning at noon, and a three-game set this weekend against Long Island: a Friday game at 2:30 p.m. and a Saturday and Sunday afternoon contest with each starting at noon. All game will be broadcast on the Hawks Radio Network with UMES baseball broadcaster Dave Vatz.
The softball team returns to the field as it competes in the Lady Pirates Classic, hosted by Hampton University. Over the three day tournament from Friday, March 4th to Sunday, March 6th, UMES will play one game each against Hampton, Canisius, Central Connecticut State, Marist and Fairleigh Dickinson.
Hawks bowling returns to the lanes to host the MEAC Northern Division in Millsboro over the weekend. Previously, UMES completely swept the division in College Park in November and will look to improve upon their record.
The UMES tennis team is set to kick off the 2011 season with a series of matches on the road. After the teams begin with Virginia Union on the road on Thursday, March 3rd, the tennis teams will compete in the MEAC roundup in Sumter, South Carolina. The Hawks will take on Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Florida A&M among others.
