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

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - Looking for some momentum prior to the crucial home stretch of MEAC play, today's doubleheader for Maryland Eastern Shore against Lehigh may have provided the spark the team needed. The Fighting Hawks defeated the visiting Mountain Hawks in a sweep to improve to 11-25 on the year.

A rally in the middle innings earned the Hawks a 7-6 win in the opener, followed by a three run sixth to tie and a walk off single from senior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania) to win 5-4 in the nightcap.

"We needed a full team effort today to beat a very good Lehigh team." Hawks coach John O'Neil said after the game. "Our guys played well in all aspects of the game."

Breslin and junior Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Georgia) each collected four hits on the day and Martin's four RBI's led the team. Sophomore Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia) added three hits and freshman Tom Summers (West Decatur, Pennsylvania) clobbered his team leading third home run in the opener.

On the mound, senior Will Turley (Greensboro, Maryland) pitched four innings in the opener to earn his team high fourth win this year, striking out three Mountain Hawks along the way. Sophomores Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) and Jordan Turner (Baltimore, Maryland) delivered scoreless relief appearances and senior Devin Repine (Salisbury, Maryland) pitched in both games, earning the save in the first game and the win in the finale.

"Bats came alive today with runners in scoring position and defense played well." O'Neil said. "Our pitching-especially the bullpen-did a great job. Both starters gave gutsy outings."

Both wins were comeback victories for Maryland Eastern Shore. Lehigh built a four run lead before the Hawks cut that in half with RBIs from Summers and freshman Zach Mills (Parksley, Virginia). The Mountain Hawks would push the lead back to three at 5-2 before the hometown Hawks surged ahead in the fourth.

It all started with singles by Breslin and Jamison Trower, followed with Summers getting hit by a pitch. Mills drew a walk to earn his second RBI of the game before Martin singled home two more to tie. Junior Justin Somerville (New Windsor, Maryland) followed with a single of his own to drive in Mills and give the Hawks the lead.

Summers' round tripper in the fifth proved to be the difference maker, as Repine snuffed out a rally by Lehigh in the sixth before retiring the Mountain Hawks in order the next inning to secure the victory.

Lehigh jumped on senior starter J.P. Black (Elkton, Maryland) with three runs in the first to snag an early lead once again. But Black settled in for the next couple of innings, giving the Hawks another comeback opportunity. However, this comeback wouldn't come so quickly.

A single from sophomore Grayson Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia) put the Hawks on the board in the second, but the visitors held Maryland Eastern Shore at bay over the next couple of innings. When Lehigh pushed across a run with a double, the Hawks were forced to try and produce three runs with six outs to play with.

Those three runs would come in the sixth. Singles by Breslin and Mills and a walk by Grayson Trower loaded the bases for Martin, who punched a hit to right. Breslin scored easily and O'Neil sent Mills around too. Then an infield defensive replacement move for Lehigh backfired when that player airmailed the relay to the catcher. The ball rolled far enough to allow Mills to score easily and Grayson Trower to cross home plate as well to tie the score.

That would set up the seventh. After Repine's pitching stranded a runner at second, Jamison Trower walked and advanced on a wild pitch. With the Hawks' first baseman in scoring position, Breslin knocked a liner past the middle of the infield, winning the nightcap for his team.

"Our team didn't give up when Lehigh did their job and jumped on us early in both games." O'Neil said. "Fun day at the ballpark today, but we got to get ourselves ready for a big series versus Delaware State."

The Hawks hope to carry the euphoria of today's wins into the weekend when they will host the rival Hornets at Hawk Stadium. A doubleheader will be played Saturday followed by a Sunday finale.