April 18, 2014
Game One (Box) | Game Two (Box)
DOVER, Del. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team made a bold statement on Friday afternoon as the Hawks swept both ends of a doubleheader with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference North leader, Delaware State. UMES opened with a 3-2 win in 11 innings, before pinning a 5-1 decision on the Hornets in the nightcap.
It was the collective pitching effort of UMES that was the difference as four UMES pitchers combined to limit the MEAC's best offense to just three runs total. DSU came into the contest averaging 10 runs-per-game in MEAC play. The Hornets also featured two of the top three hitters in NCAA Division I baseball and were hitting 60 points higher than the closest team in the league.
The wins are the first for the Hawks in the past six games against DSU as the Hornets swept the season series in 2013.
UMES was paced in the doubleheader by senior Stephen Bull (Millsboro, Del.), who went 5-for-9 combined with two runs and two RBI. His hit streak is now at 23 games, which is the most in recent history for the Hawks. Senior Byron Campbell (Waldorf, Md.) was 4-for-7 between the two, including a perfect 3-for-3 effort in the nightcap. Junior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) came through in the clutch, while freshman Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) went 2-for-3 in the nightcap with one run and one RBI.
Freshman right handed pitcher Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) and Delaware State's Matt McClain engaged in a brilliant pitcher's duel in the opener. After two scoreless innings, DSU made the score 1-0 with a solo tally in the third. It did not take UMES long to even up the score after Bull led off with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error. Campbell sent Bull home the next batter on an RBI groundout.
Stinnett and McClain each retired the side in order the next two innings, before UMES came knocking once more. The Hawks loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but McClain dug deep with a strikeout and groundout to thwart the Hawk rally.
Ron Farley gave DSU the 2-1 lead in the seventh after he led off with a homer to left, but the Hawks responded their next at bat when James doubled and scored on an RBI single by Bull.
After UMES went quiet in the ninth, Delaware State put a runner on second with one out in the last. Stinnett responded with a big strikeout of Alex Nardone, who came into the doubleheader hitting .379. He then coaxed an early grounder to sophomore Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) to send the game into extras.
Both starters were pulled after the ninth and the game was placed in the hands of each bullpen. Senior Bernard Parker Waldorf, Md.) fired a scoreless ninth and UMES took the lead in the top of the 11th on an RBI by sophomore Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pa.) as he sent home junior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.), who led off with a walk.
Junior Devin Repine (Salisbury, Md.) threw a scoreless ninth to record his third save of the season. The loss was the first for DSU in MEAC play in nearly two weeks.
The second contest mirrored the opener early as the game was scoreless into the third inning. Cameron Cecil singled home Kweston Smith to take the 1-0 lead. The game went quiet into the fifth, before UMES scored a pair of runs.
Breslin led off with a single and moved over on a walk by freshman Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.). With one away, freshman Troy Anderson (Bridgeport, W.V.) singled to load the bases. DSU's Harry Thomas would then fan the next UMES hitter for the second out, but consecutive RBI singles by Bull and Campbell gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Parker would then come in relief of starter J.P. Black (Elkton, Md.). He did not disappoint as he fired 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to post his second win of the day.
Three runs by UMES in the bottom of the seventh would up its lead to four. Repine came on to finish his second game of the day and give the Hawks their second doubleheader sweep of the season.
DSU's lethal combination of DJ Miller and Mike Alexander, who were hitting .438 and .435, respectively, combined to go just 3-for-11. Cameron Cecil led the way in game one with a 3-for-5 effort from the plate, while reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, Ron Farley homered. McClain and Harry Thomas each threw well in starts for DSU, while the Hornet bullpen took both losses.
The two teams resume play tomorrow, when they engage in a pair of doubleheaders at Solider Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., with the second contest beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com
