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

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team's efforts to get off to a strong second half start were met with resistance with the MEAC Northern Division leading Norfolk State Spartans. A pair of shutouts was the result, as the Spartans took both contests today by the final of 8-0 and 4-0 at Marty L. Miller Field.

With today's games completed the Hawks' record now stands at 9-24 with a 4-10 mark in conference play.

Sophomore Isaiah Chambers (Bowie, Maryland) went 2-for-3 in the opening game and classmate Jordan Turner (Baltimore, Maryland) contributed an inning of scoreless relief. Senior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Maryland) went 2-for-3 in the second game and 3-for-7 overall. Fellow senior Devin Repine (Salisbury, Maryland) chipped in a scoreless outing out of the bullpen.

Both starters-sophomore Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) and sophomore Scott Bean (Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania)-took the loss for each game.

"For the most part out guys threw the ball well, but Norfolk had some timely and situational hitting." Hawks coach John O'Neil said after the game.

Norfolk State scored early and often in the first game, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first and never looking back. The Spartans would scatter seven more runs over the next seven innings, and Spartan pitchers Matt Outman and Chase Anderson combined for a four hit shutout. The Hawks fell victim to another four hit shutout in game two-this time on a complete game by Spartan starter Jonathan Mauricio, who struck out nine Hawks along the way.

Today also marked the first time that Maryland Eastern Shore was shutout in back-to-back games for the first time since Valentine's Day Weekend 2015 against Alabama and for the first time in conference play since April 17, 2010 against North Carolina A&T. Over the course of the two games the Hawks left 14 runners on base.

"We had some opportunities to score in Game 1, but couldn't deliver." O'Neil said. "Got to give credit to Norfolk's pitchers. We ran into two very good arms today and they shut us down."

The three game series wraps up tomorrow at noon at Marty L. Miller Field on Norfolk State's campus.