Box Score (Game 1)l Box Score (Game 2)

DOVER, Del. -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team clinched second place in the MEAC Northern Division with a win in the first game of a doubleheader, 9-3, against the Delaware State Hornets. UMES would fall in the second game by a 5-1 score.

For much of the contest, game one proved to be a back-and-forth seesaw battle with the Hawks jumping out to an early lead. A double by sophomore Justin Dattilo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and a groundout from senior Greg Turlik (Gaithersburg, Md.) gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Delaware State would strike back over the next two innings. The Hornets got a sacrifice fly in the second inning, and Devin Beverly blasted a solo homerun in the third to tie the score. Each team would score in the fourth, with the Hawks scoring one on an error and Delaware State countering with

In the sxith, UMES got an RBI single from junior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Md.) to retake the lead 4-3. Two frames later the team would break it open after loading the bases with one out. Senior Joshua James (Milford, Del.) beat out an infield single to score one, and a pair would come in on a fielder's choice by Dattilo to extend the lead.

RBI singles from Turlik and Escanilla to pad the lead even further. Sophomore Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) was able to keep the Hornets in check after the fourth inning, going eight frames and striking out six, to pick up win number six. Freshman Toby Hoskins (North East, Md.) surrendered a ninth inning walk but otherwise pitched cleanly to shut the door.

The Hornets buzzed out of the gate in the second contest, getting a two-run homer from Chris Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead. Add on runs would come in the third and fourth innings to drive the lead up to 4-0. First baseman Jaylen Zielecki homered to center field in the sixth to add another run.

On the mound, Zack Candeloro was masterful for Delaware State, tossing a five-hit complete game victory. Turlik ended six innings of shutout ball with a home run to right field, his team-high fourth of the season. Junior Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia, N.Y.) grinded out six tough innings but took the loss to fall to 3-5 on the season.

Because of the loss in game two by the Hawks, Norfolk State captures the MEAC Northern Division title for the first time in school history. All three seeds in the North are now set--Norfolk State will be the #1 seed, UMES will be the #2, and Delaware State will be the #3 seed.

Already guaranteed the most MEAC wins in program history, UMES will go for a record 15 wins tomorrow in a single game beginning at noon.