Box Score | Photo Gallery

SALISBURY, Md.-- This year's MEAC Championship served as a heartbreaking end to the 2015 campaign. UMES surrendered two late leads to conference foes, bowing out of the tournament in the second round. In Thursday's contest the Hawks gave up a 6-2 advantage as the Spartans scored three in the seventh and two in the ninth to win the game, 7-6.

The team finished with a 16-33 record, the most wins for the squad in nine years, while finishing just two wins shy of their best mark in nearly twenty years.

After the 8-6 loss to Savannah State which opened the tournament the Hawks hoped to blaze ahead in the second game. Early on it appeared that would happen as junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) and senior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) produced a run without a hit, thanks a walk and a sacrifice fly. The next inning freshman Quenton Hamrick (New Castle, Del.) doubled then scored as junior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pa.) hit a RBI single to make it 2-0 Hawks.

With another run coming in the fourth thanks to Hamrick, UMES exploded for three in the fifth. Senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) reached on a fielder's choice as sophomore Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Ga.) slid underneath a Spartan's tag. Sophomore Skylar Murray (Georgetown, Del.) followed that up with a two RBI single that scored both Martin and sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

Now holding a four run lead, junior Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia, N.Y.) looked to keep the momentum going. He was able to do so thru 5 2/3 innings, punching out seven opponents on the way. However, he hit a snag in the bottom of the sixth. Three singles followed a walk, allowing three Norfolk State batters to cross home. In nearly the blink of an eye, the Hawks lead was trimmed from three to one.

Junior Will Turley (Greensboro, Md.) and senior Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.) were solid in relief, maintaining the one run edge thru the eighth. In the ninth the Spartans tied the game with a double by Angel Rosario, who would advance to third on a groundout. UMES would put the next man up in an attempt to set up the double play.

In what proved to be the final play of the year, Spartan pinch runner Robbie Depp slashed a ball to Martin at short that looked like a tailor made twin killing. But the baserunner slid into second just in time to disrupt Escanilla's throw to first. The toss went over Murray's head, allowing Depp to reach and Rosario to score.

Although the season did not end the way the Hawks desired, there were many positives the team can build on. Along with the most wins in nine seasons UMES also achieved the most conference victories in the team's history, winning 14 of 24 games. That mark earned them a #2 seed in the championship, highest for the club in decades.

Individually there were also several accomplishments. Escanilla garned a first team All MEAC selection with a .349 batting average, and Dattilo received a second team nod with his average of .308 and 17 extra base hits. Sophomore pitcher Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) also finished on the second team with a 2.80 ERA and seven victories.

Six seniors will also move on to graduate from the team, with each making a positive contribution. Turlik, James and Bone each played in their final game today. Chipper Smith (Florence, S.C.) pitched his final game with the Hawks against Savannah State yesterday. Nick Cooper (Delmar, Del.) played last in the regular season finale against UMBC, and Mike Epps (Pottstown, Pa.) started the home finale, also against the Retrievers.

The team also initiated the Dugout Club, allowing supporters of the Hawk baseball team to become a greater part of the organization. Thus far, the program has been a success, providing some much needed contributions that will improve the team's equipment and facilities.

UMES will continue its quest for a MEAC title in February 2016.