April 15, 2012
Final Stats
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - UMES stayed close with Norfolk State throughout most of the game but fell to the Spartans 9-5 in the rubber match on Sunday. The Hawks go to 8-7 in the MEAC and 9-27 overall, while NSU improves to 7-7 in-conference and 11-20 this season. UMES won game two of the series but lost a pair to fall in the series.
Norfolk State struck in the first two innings off a first inning RBI single by Ryan Montgomery and a Chris Warren RBI single in the next frame for an early 2-0 advantage.
After James Newsome (Mechanicsville, Md.) one-out single and a ground out by Malik Wylie (Bronx, N.Y.) to advance the Hawks third baseman to second, Brandon Schott (Warren, Pa.) singled on a fly ball to right-center, falling in-between three fielders, to score Newsome and pull UMES within a run.
The Spartans put together three straight hits to begin the top of the third against UMES starter Jesus Hernandez (Haverstraw, N.Y.) (0-4). Mikey Bruno led off with a single. Ross Cardwell followed with a triple into to left-center to score Bruno, then a Montgomery single brought Cardwell home, to put NSU up 4-1.
NSU padded its lead with two more runs, both unearned, in the fifth off a Shane Hoggard double and Warren sacrifice fly, to go up 6-1.
The Hawks got their bats going in the bottom of the sixth against NSU starter Chris Horne (3-4). UMES loaded the bases with two outs, capped by a Wylie single. Schott came through again, doubling into the left-center cap to score Jeffrey Fleetwood (Delmar, Del.) and Newsome to cut the deficit to three.
After Norfolk State got back a run in the seventh on a Warren RBI single, UMES responded in the bottom half of the inning. After Stephen Bull (Millsboro, Del.) reached on a fielding error, Byron Campbell (Waldorf, Md.) doubled on a line drive down the right field line, scoring Bull all the way from first. Tre-Von Johnson (East New Market, Md.) proceeded with his third hit of the game, a single up the middle, to bring in Campbell to make the score 7-5, pulling UMES within two.
It was not enough as the Spartans added a run each in the final two innings. UMES put the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after singles from Campbell and Fleetwood, but NSU held to win 9-5.
Horne went seven innings in his start for NSU, allowing five runs, two earned, and striking out four in his victory. Jordan Egan got his first save of the year, pitching the final two scoreless innings.
The loss went to Hernandez, with four runs charged in 2.2 innings plus two strikeouts. Zachary Saca (Elk Grove, Calif.) struck out four in four-and-a-third, allowing three runs, just one earned in his relief appearance.
Schott finished with three RBI, going 2-for-4 with a double. Johnosn finished with three hits in five at bats, earning 12 hits this weekend in 15 at bats. Both Bull and Campbell went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
For Norfolk State, Cardwell, Montgomery and Warren all had multi-hit and multi-RBI days, with the ladder going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
UMES will finish its homestand with a mid-week game against Navy on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at Hawks Stadium.
