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HOOVER, Ala. - In the series finale at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore struggled against the vaunted lineup and talented pitching of the Alabama Crimson Tide. When it all said and done, Alabama had swept UMES with a 19-0 victory on Sunday afternoon. The loss will make the Hawks 0-3 to start the season.

As with Saturday's contest, Alabama went right to work on the Hawks starting pitcher, junior Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia, N.Y.). Three out of the first five batters would reach base, all of whom scored thanks to a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly, immediately giving Alabama a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

However, it was the third inning that secured the game for the Crimson Tide. A leadoff walk and two bunt singles soon exploded into a six run inning. Whiteman was pulled after the first five runners reached base, and freshman Scott Bean (Harveys Lake, Pa.) was called upon in relief. He would give up a double and a sacrifice fly that extended the Alabama advantage to 9-0.

The Crimson Tide added an additional run in the fourth, and then went off again in the seventh, scoring nine runs on six hits that further cemented their third win in a row.

Among the positive story lines for the Hawks was the performance of sophomore catcher Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.). He reached base twice for the second straight game, earning a walk and a single. Dattilo finished the series with a .333 batting average. Junior Will Turley (Greensboro, Md.) contributed an inning of scoreless relief for the second straight contest, and senior Devin Repine (Salisbury, Md.) pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth in his season debut. UMES also kept a clean record in the field, going the full nine with surrendering an error for the first time this season.

Although everyone contributed for Alabama, they were once again led by outfielder Casey Hughston, who went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBIs, all while falling a homerun short of the cycle.

The Hawks will stay in the Old Line State for their next matchup, a single game versus Navy on Wednesday. After that UMES will travel to Lexington, Va. to face VMI and Buffalo at the VMI tournament.