Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- In a slugfest where neither team refused to yield to its opponent, the Hawks made numerous comebacks after falling behind midway thru Sunday's finale with the Delaware State Hornets. Unfortunately, the Hornets fought back at every turn, eventually defeating the Hawks by a 12-10 score and preventing a UMES sweep.

The Hawks still hold a firm grip on the second place position in the MEAC North, with an 11-7 conference record.

Delaware State looked as if they would open up the game early. Just as the Hawks took advantage of a bevy of Hornet errors on Saturday, the visitors from Dover returned the favor, scoring four runs with the aid of four Hawk errors to take a considerable lead in 2 ½ innings.

Undeterred, UMES fought back in the third. Junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) singled home a run, and an error, bunt base hit and fielder's choice gave way to another RBI single from sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.). With the deficit cut in half and two men on base, senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) capped off the rally with a third single that plated both runners.

The following inning, the Hawks captured what would be their only lead of the game. The Hornets pitcher walked the bases loaded, and an infield single from senior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) scored one, giving UMES a 5-4 lead.

Over the next two innings, however, Delaware State marched back to the front. A double and a single plates two for a 6-5 Hornet lead after 4 ½ innings, followed by a four run outburst in the top of the sixth. The game had wildly fluctuated from a 4-0 Hornet lead to a 5-4 Hawks edge to a 10-5 advantage for Delaware State.

In the late innings the Hawks made another effort to turn the tide once again. A base hit bunt from freshman Isaiah Chambers (Forestville, Md.) in the bottom of the sixth cut the deficit to four, and RBIs from sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) and sophomore Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Ga.) trimmed the new deficit in half again.

Delaware State would drive the stakes even higher with a two RBI single that extended the Hornet lead again to 12-8. After scoreless frames in the bottom of the eighth and the top of the ninth, the stage was set for one final comeback attempt.

Dattilo and Turlik singled to begin the bottom of the ninth, and Murray reached on an error to load the bases with nobody out. The next batter, junior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pa.) hit into a fielder's choice that scored Dattilo to close the gap by a run. Martin then singled home Turlik and the Hawks had life, down just two runs. But after a pitching change, the Hawks attempt a daring double steal which backfires as Breslin is thrown out at third. The batter at the plate lines out, and the Hornets claim victory.

Martin emerges as the Hawks' finest offensive performer by going 3-for-4 with two runs and RBIs in the contest. Escanilla, Chambers, Dattilo and Turlik also collected two hits each for UMES. Senior starter Chipper Smith (Florence, S.C.) took the loss after going 4 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs.

A doubleheader against Georgetown will be the next test for the Hawks, with two seven innings to be held in Bethesda on Wednesday. A 5:00p.m. first pitch is scheduled for the first game.