Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

NORFOLK, Va.  -- Sophomore pitcher Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) did everything he could to help the Hawks earn a victory at Marty L. Miller Field Saturday, but Norfolk State stymied every rally UMES had on their way to a 1-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader. While the Hawks hung tough in game two as well, a late Spartan rally gave the home team a sweep.

The Hawks' conference record drops to 9-5, still good for second place in the MEAC Northern Division.

Norfolk State got its lone run with their third batter in the bottom of the first. Denathan Dukes singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, enabling Roger Hall to single home the Spartans' speedy leadoff man.

UMES had several rallies throughout the game. In their half of the first, sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) singled with two runners on, but fellow sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was thrown trying to reach home. Except in the second the Hawks got a runner on base in every inning, but the ninth was their best chance to score.

Junior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pa.) led off with a single and pinch hitting freshman Isaiah Chambers (Forestville, Md.) followed with a bunt single, allowing Breslin to reach third on an error. After a strikeout, freshman Quenton Hamrick (New Castle, Del.) walked to load the bases with one out, forcing the Spartan infield in. The defensive alignment would pay off for Norfolk State as the next batter grounded to a drawn in second base who forced Breslin at home. One more Hawk came up, but Spartan closer Josh Vales sent both he and his teammates back to the dugout with a strikeout.

Although the offense was not able to manufacture a run for him, Stinnett did not stop being a force for the Hawks. He would pitch eight strong, allowing just the one run on seven hits, no walks and five strikeouts. Stinnett took a hard luck loss while lowering his ERA to 3.02 this season. The Spartan starter, Matt Outman, was equally impressive, throwing 7 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win.

Norfolk State tried to pounce on the Hawks early in game two. Thanks to three hits, a balk and two UMES errors, the Spartans crossed the plate three times in the first to storm out to the early advantage. However, the Hawks remained undeterred.

In the second, the Hawks mustered three singles with two out to load the bases. Junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) delivered with an RBI single to right field that scored sophomore Troy Anderson (Bridgeport, W.Va.), but when a second runner tried to score, Norfolk State rose to the occasion, gunning out the baserunner on another outfield assist.

That didn't faze the Hawks. Junior pitcher Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia, N.Y.) kept the Spartans off the board over the next four innings allowing the offense to rally again. After Hamrick reached on a throwing error with two outs, Escanilla was intentionally walked and senior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) singled to load the bases. Dattilo then delivered in the clutch with a two RBI single that tied the game.

But the Saturday doubleheader would belong to the Spartans, thanks to a tremendous home team rally in the sixth. Mikey Bruno tripled to score two, and Robbie Hiser and Roger Hall contributed with RBI singles of their own. When it was all over, the Hawks trailed by a 7-3 score. Norfolk State reliever Cooper Jones tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to secure a doubleheader sweep.

Despite the sweep, the Hawks raised their season batting average while lowering their ERA to 5.10 for the year.

The Hawks will look to avoid the sweep in the single game finale Sunday at noon. Senior Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.) will be on the bump.