Box Score

DOVER, Del. -- The Hawks' first road game in nearly two weeks took place an hour up Route 13 as UMES battled Delaware State for a single game Sunday at Soldier Field in Dover. In a tense early matchup that decides control of first place in the MEAC's Northern Division, it was the Hawks that came out on top by a 4-2 score. The two teams are now tied for first with a 5-2 record in conference play.

Both starting pitchers were electric from the outset. Sophomore Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) was in true form, striking out nine batters over eight innings while yielding to only four baserunners. Hornet freshman Lane De Leon was equally impressive, reaching a double digit strike out total over eight frames.

The Hornets broke thru the wall first as outfielder Charles Dailey launched an opposite field solo home run to right field in the third inning for a 1-0 home team lead. However, the edge would not last as Hawks junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) countered with his first collegiate four bagger--a blast over the fence in left field--that tied the score in the fourth inning.

Pitchers resumed their dominance for the next couple innings until the Hawks broke the deadlock again. With a runner on first, sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) blasted a two run shot to left field that gave the Hawks a two run lead. The home run, like Escanilla's, also was a collegiate first for Dattilo.

Stinnett seized control from there. Delaware State would go down in order in the sixth and seventh and reach base just once in the eight, as the Hawks hurler retired four Hornets via the strikeout.

The Hawks would tack on some insurance in the ninth, as senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) ripped a double to right-center, scoring on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) to extend the advantage to three runs.

With the lead at 4-1, UMES sent out junior Devin Repine (Salisbury, Md.) to finish the job. Although he would concede a pair of singles that scored a run, he would earn his third save thanks to a great diving catch from left fielder Quenton Hamrick (New Castle, Del.).

UMES will complete this three game series against the Hornets with a doubleheader beginning at noon tomorrow.