Box Score

DOVER, Delaware - If Maryland Eastern Shore felt any pressure heading into a must-win weekend Friday (May 4), they didn't show it on the field. Backed by eight innings of shutout pitching by senior Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland), the Hawks blanked the Hornets, 4-0, at Soldier Field.

With the win the Hawks remain in contention for the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championship, but they will need two more wins against the Hornets Saturday (May 5) to qualify.

Hoskins struck out eight Delaware State batters and peppered seven hits in the outing. His efforts was backed by several key defensive stops, including two double plays started by senior Isaiah Chambers (Bowie, Maryland) and freshman Dillon Oxyer (Pasadena, Maryland).

The run scoring kicked off in the second when sophomore Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey) took home plate as a fellow teammate was caught in a rundown. Two more runs would cross in the fifth thanks to RBI's by senior Tyler Friis (Appleton, Wisconsin) and junior Dominic DeBlasie (Tilton, New Hampshire).

Delaware State managed to get runners in scoring position in the eighth but Hoskins snuffed it out. In the ninth, Chambers added an RBI double to score Marshall. Senior Chris Melrath (Rising Sun, Maryland) shut the door in the ninth to secure the win.

DeBlasie went 3-for-4 on the day and junior Joey Nicastro (New Market, Maryland) earned a multi hit day with two trips in four.

The series continues Saturday at noon at Soldier Field.