Box Score

BALTIMORE- On a cloudy and chilly day, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball Team dropped both nonconference games to in-state rival UMBC, 2-0 and 13-5, respectively. With both losses, the Lady Hawks fell to 3-17 overall whereas UMBC improved to 10-11 on the season.

In the first contest, freshman pitcher Adrienne Guerra (Monrovia, Calif.) had a solid performance as she pitched six innings while allowing only two runs. Additionally, the California-product tallied five strikeouts in a losing effort.

Offensively, the Lady Hawks could not find a rhythm as they were held to three hits. Despite the quiet bats, junior Trenece Nash (Decatur, Ga.) recorded her second multi-hit game of the season, going 2-of-3 from the plate.

After three consecutive innings of scoreless softball, a RBI-single from UMBC's Kelly Lane put the Retrievers on the board in the fourth, 1-0. In the sixth, Bridgett O'Malley drove in another run and helped UMBC win by the final score, 2-0.

For the Retrievers, Jessica Holte put on a clinic as she tossed a complete game and struck out six Lady Hawks in the victory.

In the second game, UMES had better success offensively; however, struggled to slow down the Retrievers' attack. Maryland Eastern Shore registered five runs on six hits. Newcomer Tesharra Hill (Chatsworth, Calif.) went a perfect 2-of-2 from the plate while Morgan King (Danville, Ill.) blasted a two-run shot over the leftfield fence in the loss.

UMBC pounced on the Lady Hawks early, scoring four runs in the first, 4-0. Next inning, the Retrievers manufactured four more runs to take a commanding 8-0 advantage. In the third, the Lady Hawks rallied.

Hill and Allison Anderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each led off the third with a single to put runners on first and second. Then, both advanced on a wild pitch and placed runners in scoring position. With two away, Alexis Hudson (Laurel, Del.) doubled down the leftfield line and drove in Hill and Anderson, 8-2. Next at-bat, King delivered a two-run shot and trimmed the deficit in half, 8-4.

UMBC responded with three runs in the bottom third and increase their lead back to seven runs, 11-4. After a scoreless fourth, Vanessa Gomez (Belleville, N.J.) scored on a wild pitch to cut into the margin, 11-5. In the bottom fifth, UMBC posted two more runs to win, 13-5.

For UMBC, they generated 13 runs on 17 hits. Toni Santonastasso went 3-of-4 with three RBIs while Taylor Hall also had a game-high three RBIs in the win.

On March 28-29, the Lady Hawks host Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe, Coppin State, for their home opener. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. Sunday's first-pitch starts at 12 p.m.

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