Box Score

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - In their season opener, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball Team dropped a slugfest to the Youngstown State Penguins, 10-7, at the Campbell/Hampton Inn Invitational. With the setback, the Lady Hawks fell to 0-1 overall while Youngstown State moved to 1-0 on the young season.

UMES tallied eight hits total, led by junior Vanessa Gomez (Belleville, N.J.). Gomez recorded a game-high three hits while stealing two bases in a losing effort. Newcomer Tesharra Hill (Chatsworth, Calif.) made an immediate impact for the Lady Hawks as she drilled a two-run bomb in her first collegiate at-bat.

Gomez opened the game with a lead-off single, followed by back-to-back steals. With two outs away, junior Emily Diseroad (Manchester, Md.) drove in Gomez to give the Lady Hawks the early advantage, 1-0. Next at-bat, Hill dinged a two-run shot over the left-center field to extend the lead, 3-0. In the Penguins' first at-bat, they scored four unanswered runs (three unearned), including a three-run homer by Youngstown State's Miranda Castiglione, to take the lead after one inning of play, 4-3.

After a scoreless second from UMES, the Penguins manufactured three more runs to balloon the lead, 7-3. In the fourth inning, the Lady Hawks trimmed the deficit in half after a two-run single by Princess Davis (Frederick, Md.), 7-5. Youngstown State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to give them a four-run advantage, 9-5.

In the fifth, Maryland Eastern Shore made another rally to cut into the margin. With one away, Hill walked to give the Lady Hawks their first baserunner of the inning. Next up, freshman Samantha Casarez (Sylmar, Calif.) singled, giving UMES runners on first and second. Fellow freshman Ciara Samuel (Haddam, Conn.) also walked to load the bases with one out. Youngstown State struggled to find the plate as they walked sophomore Allison Anderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.); thus, scoring Hill, 9-6. With two outs and bases loaded, Gomez singled up-the-middle to drive in Casarez and shaved the deficit, 9-7. Unfortunately, the Lady Hawks were unable to capitalize on more runs to reclaim the lead in the fifth. Youngstown State added a run in the sixth to win, 10-7.

For the Penguins, Castiglione went 2-of-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Katie Smallcomb and Brittney Moffatt each recorded two hits while Kayla Haslett picked up a two-inning save in the victory.

Due to the frost delay, the Lady Hawks have rescheduled their contest against Campbell for Sunday, Feb. 8, at 1p.m. Before then, Maryland Eastern Shore return to the diamond tomorrow as they face Presbyterian at 5 p.m., followed by St. John's approximately 7 p.m.

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com.