April 22, 2015 Box Score (Game 1)Â l Box Score (Game 2)
BETHESDA, Md.-- Storms gave way to a sunny evening at Shirley Povich Field as the Hawks squared off against the Georgetown Hoyas in a doubleheader. The Hoyas took the first game, 5-2, and despite a five-run lead in game two, dropped the finale, 8-7. Georgetown scored six runs in the final two frames to secure the victory.
It was the Hawks who struck first in game one. With sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) on second after a leadoff walk, he was plated by fellow sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) to give UMES a 1-0 lead. However, Georgetown would score twice to gain the lead in the bottom half of the inning.
The same combination was used in the fourth inning. After Dattilo advanced on a wild pitch and was bunted to third, Murray grounded to second for a 2-2 tie. Once again, Georgetown responded in the bottom frame, capitalizing on a leadoff double to take a one-run advantage again.
Freshman starter Scott Bean (Harveys Lake, Pa.) held the Hoyas in check the rest of the way, eventually pitching into the sixth inning. He would finish the game with 5 1/3 innings, four hits, three earned, two walks and four strikeouts on 77 pitches.
Unfortunately, the Hawks were unable to even the score, despite loading the bases in the fifth and getting a runner to second in the sixth. To add further difficulty, the well-rested Hoyas capitalized on the Hawks' relievers by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth. That didn't stop a vigorous UMES comeback attempt in the seventh, with freshman Grayson Trower (Chesterfield, Va.) leading off with a triple. Senior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Georgetown closer snuffed out the rally with a groundout.
In the second game, UMES once again jumped to a fast start as senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) delivered a clutch single to complete a two out rally. But Georgetown fought back again with some small ball, scoring a run without the benefit of a hit.
Over the next two innings the Hawks would regain the edge with some more offense. Junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) singled home sophomore Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Ga.) to give UMES the lead back. Then after a steal of second and advancing to third, Escanilla swiped home to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
In the third, Martin singled up the middle, allowing junior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pa.) to score on an error and extended the lead to three. After Georgetown got one back in the bottom half, Turlik smacked a double to right the following inning that plated two more runs to give UMES a 6-2 lead.
Senior starter Michael Epps (Pottstown, Pa.) was superb in his 4 1/3 innings, and reliever Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.) stymied a rally to keep the advantage at four. UMES then got an insurance run in the sixth to make the score 7-2 Hawks.
It all unraveled in the sixth. Georgetown loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, walk and bunt single. Two Hoyas were walked in and one run was singled in to trim the lead down to 7-5. Junior Will Turley (Greensboro, Md.) got a strikeout and a flyout to end the rally, and it looked like the Hawks might just hold on. But true to form, Georgetown fought to the end, using a few well-placed balls and with the help of a pair of costly errors, scored three in the bottom of the seventh to cap off the comeback and win.
With the pair of losses, the Hawks fall to 13-26 this season.
UMES returns to conference action this Saturday with a doubleheader versus the Norfolk State Spartans. Prior to the 1:00p.m. first pitch, the team's six seniors will be honored and recognized for their careers as Hawks. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to arrive early to be on hand for the ceremony.
