PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - After earning a much needed split against Norfolk State, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball Team goes across the bridge to Baltimore where they will meet the Morgan State Lady Bears in a vital three-game series.

Saturday's (April 23) doubleheader begins 1 p.m. and will be played at CCBC-Dundalk Softball Field. Sunday's (April 24) seven-inning contest starts 3 p.m. and will take place at CSU Softball Field.

LAST TIMEOUT

Yesterday (April 21), UMES won game one in extra innings, 2-1, while the Spartans took the slugfest in the nightcap, 18-13.

Sophomore Adrienne Guerra (Monrovia, Calif.) picked up her eighth win of the season after tossing a career-high eight innings. The California product fanned seven Spartans and allowed only one run in the victory.

In game two, Maryland Eastern Shore recorded 13 runs on 16 hits, led by senior Vanessa Gomez (Belleville, N.J.). The New Jersey native fell a homer shy of the cycle, going 3-of-5 and three runs scored.

MATCHUP PREVIEW

Currently, Morgan State (10-24, 5-6 MEAC) holds the fourth and final spot in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division standings. After UMES, the Lady Bears meet cross-town rival Coppin State (April 30-May 1) and Norfolk State (May 7) in a make-up game. Offensively, Audrianna Alvarez and Damali Young spearhead the Bears' attack. Alvarez leads the club in batting average (.369) while Young is a perfect 11-of-11 in swiping bases. Amy Begg has 32 strikeouts in conference play, which is fifth-best in the league.

For the Lady Hawks (10-24, 3-9 MEAC), they enter the weekend in the sixth spot in the MEAC Northern Division and 2.5 games behind Morgan State. UMES looks to end a seven-game skid against the Lady Bears, dating back to 2013. The senior trio of Gomez, Kaitlyn Hitch (Delmar, Md.), and Trenece Nash (Decatur, Ga.) guides the league's fourth-best hitting team. In the circle, Guerra remains the squad's ace as she leads the Lady Hawks in nearly every pitching category.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 26, the Lady Hawks travel to the City of Brotherly Love where the Drexel Dragons await. The doubleheader action begins 2 p.m.

On April 30-May 1, Maryland Eastern Shore concludes the regular season with a home series against the Howard Lady Bison.

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visitwww.umeshawks.com .