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PRINCESS ANNE, MARYLAND - In a contest that lasted nearly five hours-including an hour long rain delay-Maryland Eastern Shore battled ferociously with their rivals from Norfolk State. But the 13^th inning proved unlucky for the Hawks, as the Spartans were the ones who finally delivered a clutch hit with two outs, handing the Hawks a 2-1 defeat Saturday at Hawk Stadium.

With the loss The Shore falls to 10-36 (7-15 MEAC). Norfolk State clinches the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division crown for the third year in a row and will be a No. 1 seed at the MEAC Championship beginning May 17^th.

Prior to the game, Maryland Eastern Shore honored three seniors who would all make positive contributions in today's contest. Jordan Martin (Stockbridge, Georgia) went 2-for-5 at the dish with a run scored, and Justin Somerville (Randallstown, Maryland) drove him the Hawks' only run of the contest. Jordan Wesley (Mitchellville, Maryland) went 1-for-4 at the plate and made some key outs as the team's right fielder.

However, it was pitching that was paramount during the game. Freshman Wesley Martin (Westminster, Maryland) started and went four innings, allowing four hits while striking out four. Junior Chris Melrath (Rising Sun, Maryland), freshman Steven Cook (Westminster, Maryland), and junior Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) combined for another seven punch outs in relief.

Collectively the quartet of Hawk pitchers stranded an astounding 20 Spartans on base, bearing down in the tough moments and using their defense to keep Norfolk State off the board.

After five innings of play neither side could score. Norfolk State was the first to break thru in the sixth with an RBI bunt single by Terrance Pinkston. In the bottom half of the inning, the Hawks immediately responded. Martin led off with a single and Somerville came thru in the clutch with two men out to tie up the score.

Though the Spartans put several men in scoring position, they were unable to push across a go-ahead run. Neither could the Hawks, who saw an excellent chance in the 11^th. Martin singled and stole second, but the Spartans induced a fly out to move onto the 12^th.

Then the skies opened up, causing the hour long rain delay.

Play resumed in the 12^th, and immediately Norfolk State put the pressure on again as two men reached on a single and a fielder's choice. But Hoskins bore down again, getting a force out at third and two called strikeouts to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 12^th a pinch hit double by freshman Blake Coleman (Woodbridge, Virginia) gave the Hawks a reason to hope. This time, however, Norfolk State's pitcher stepped up to strike out two Hawks, and so the game moved to the 13^th.

The winning run for the Spartans would come via a two out rally. Alex Mauricio worked a walk after being down in the count 0-2. He then promptly stole second and advanced to third on an error, allowing Stephen Baughan to drive him in with an RBI single.

Three Hawks would come up in the bottom of the 13^th, but all were retired.

Aside from the late inning heroics of Mauricio and Baughan, Norfolk State enjoyed a fine performance from Devin Hemmerich, who blazed thru 11 innings of work striking out 11 Hawks against just one earned run. Infielder Justin Burrell came thru with three base hits on the afternoon.

Maryland Eastern Shore still has a chance to become the third seed at the MEAC tournament with two games against Norfolk State Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.