Feb. 27, 2015 Box Score
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - On a snow-free field in North Carolina, the Hawks opened the Fighting Camel Classic at Campbell University with an afternoon matchup against the Furman Paladins. Beginning with a three-run second inning rally in the second inning, the Paladins led wire-to-wire, eventually defeating the Hawks by a 5-1 score. The contest was completed in a swift one hour and 50 minutes.
The second inning rally began with a single from Jordan Simpson. He would score after the next batter, Blake Chisolm, lined a double to right-center field. A base hit with two outs by Griffin Davis would score Chisolm, and Davis followed after a stolen base and RBI single by Matt Towarnicky. Furman would add a fourth run in the third to extend their lead.
The Hawks responded in the fifth inning. After a rundown nabbed senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) between third and home, sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.), who had hit a double, advanced to third while Turlik was trapped. Furman's catcher then let loose a passed ball by dropping a high fastball, allowing Murray to score.
After the Furman rally in the second, Hawks sophomore and starting pitcher Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) settled down nicely, surrendering just two runs and six hits the rest of the way. He would strikeout three batters while throwing 105 pitches.
UMES had a couple late rallies, with runners on in both the eighth and nine innings. However, the Hawks were unable to close the gap any further before Furman retired Turlik on a strikeout to seal the victory.
Five different Hawks recorded base knocks in the game. Other than Murray, freshman Grayson Trower (Chesterfield, Va.) also tallied a double, which came in the fourth inning. Turlik tapped a bunt for a base hit, and both freshman Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Va.) and sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) raked singles to the outfield. Dattilo's hit came with two outs in the ninth, extending his on-base streak to eight games, dating back to last season.
Junior J.P. Black (Elkton, Md.) relieved Stinnett and pitched the bottom of the eighth, holding the Paladins off the scoreboard and giving up just one walk.
UMES will be back in action tomorrow when they take on the host school Campbell at 4:30 p.m. in Jim Perry Stadium. Junior Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia, N.Y.) will be on the mound for the Hawks, while Nick Thayer is scheduled to pitch for the Fighting Camels.
