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

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - Using a pair of runs in the sixth inning, Maryland Eastern Shore took the victory over Iona, 4-3, in the second game of the series, giving them the opportunity to sweep. But the Gaels blanked the Hawks in the series finale to salvage a game and split Saturday's doubleheader at Hawk Stadium.

The Shore improves their record to 2-11 and Iona improves to 4-6.

Seniors Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Georgia) and Justin Somerville (New Windsor, Maryland) were the heroes of the first game, delivering RBI singles to bring the Hawks back from a run down to win. Junior Chris Melrath (Rising Sun, Maryland) gave up only one run over 3 1/3 innings to earn his first collegiate victory, and freshman Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey) finished the game for his first collegiate save. Junior Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia) also continued his hot streak with a 3-for-3 game.

In the second game, freshman Marty Tolson, Jr. (Stafford, Virginia) gave up just one earned run with three strikeouts while pitching into the sixth inning, and sophomore Joey Nicastro (New Market, Maryland) went 2-for-2 at the dish, but the Iona Gaels held the rest of the lineup to just one other hit-which was recorded by junior Tyler Friis (Appleton, Wisconsin) via a bunt single.

The Gaels' Matt Flannery led his team with four hits on the day, including a 3-for-3 in the opener. In the finale, Patrick Ryan pitched six shutout innings with five strikeouts to get the win.

Both teams went back and forth in the early part of game one, with the Hawks and Gaels trading sacrifice flies to score runs in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth. That gave Iona a 3-2 lead prior to the bottom of the sixth. After Trower reached with a single, senior Jordan Wesley (Mitchellville, Maryland) was hit by a pitch to bring a rally to life. Junior Isaiah Chambers (Bowie, Maryland) drew a walk to load the bases, and Martin tied the game with his single to short. Somerville followed with a hit to nearly the same spot for the win.

Iona scored runs in the first and three innings of game two before riding their pitchers to the victory in the series finale. The game was dominated by pitching with just a combined seven hits allowed.

Maryland Eastern Shore will be home again this Wednesday for a single game against Georgetown, a 3 p.m. first pitch.