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

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland- After dropping the first game by a 20-7 margin, the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks responded by building a significant lead in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. But just when victory was in hand, the visiting Norfolk State Spartans pounded four runs and stole a sweep in extra innings, giving the Hawks a 7-6 defeat.

Coach John O'Neil still wanted to look on the bright side in spite of the heartbreaking defeats. "Tough day at the ballpark today. But despite the sweep a lot of positives came out of this weekend, and this will make our team better."

Senior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania) paced the Hawks offense with five hits over two games, including two trips home and an RBI. Sophomore Jessey Valdez (Dorchester, Massachusetts) went 2-for-4 each game and led the team with five runs batted in, while senior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Maryland) crossed the plate three times in the first game.

The Hawks' pitchers struggled in the first game but rebounded in the second billing. Sophomore Scott Bean (Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania) delivered an effective start going 3 2/3 innings and giving up just one earned run. Senior reliever Devin Repine (Salisbury, Maryland) added just over two innings in relief, also surrendering just one run.

Falling behind 8-0 in the first game, the Hawks responded with two runs in the fourth, with a fielders' choice from sophomore Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia) helping the cause. Three more runs further closed the gap to a four run deficit in the sixth, but that was as close as the team would get.

Maryland Eastern Shore struck first in the second game on Valdez's RBI groundout. After conceding a tie in the fourth, a double from Trower and an RBI from junior Dallas Culotta (Princess Anne, Maryland) gave the Hawks the lead back.

Insurance runs in the fifth offered comfortable padding heading to the seventh inning. The Hawks would get two quick outs but the Spartans stayed alive with a double and a single. The next Norfolk State batter launched a shot to left to pull within one and suddenly the visitors had life. That momentum must have transferred to the next Spartan up who blasted a ball to right to tie the game.

In the eighth free bases enabled the go-ahead Norfolk run to advance on a bases loaded walk for a one-run lead. A single with one down in the bottom frame was left stranded and the Hawks were defeated.

"Got to give credit to Norfolk State for coming back with the tying runs with two outs [in the seventh]." O'Neil said. "But our guys showed a lot of heart and determination playing game three [of the series] that well after two bad losses."

A midweek showdown with the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:00p.m. at Hawk Stadium.