BOILING SPRINGS, North Carolina — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team dropped two games in the Red and Black Softball Tournament hosted by Gardner-Webb University on Saturday (March 2). Eastern Shore fell to Wright State 8-5 and Gardner-Webb 9-1.
In game one versus Wright State, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead. Eastern Shore scored four runs in the first inning and one more in the second inning.
Senior Daeshia Jones (Teaneck, NJ) started the game with a single. After an error allowed her to move to third, fellow senior Breana Florez (Houston, TX) grounded out to the shortstop but that allowed Jones to score and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Two batters later, freshman Rachel Gingrich (Landisburg, PA) hit a single to score junior Allison Gingrich (Landisburg, PA). Following a groundout, senior Kiana Peterson (Willingboro, NJ) hit a triple to right field to bring Rachel Gingrich and sophomore Stephanie Huff (Montoursville, PA) across home plate to make the score 4-0.
Wright State scored one in the top of the second, but it was answered in the bottom of the inning as Huff singled down the left field line to bring Jones home and give Eastern Shore a 5-1 lead.
The Shore would hold a lead until the sixth inning. Maryland Eastern Shore led 5-3 going into the sixth, but Wright State would score five runs in that inning and the Hawks could not respond.
The Hawks had six hits in the game coming from Jones, Peterson, freshman Jordan Kelly (Bridgeton, NJ), Huff, and Allison and Rachel Gingrich.
In the second game of the day, Eastern Shore gave up five runs in the first inning to Gardner-Webb. The only run that crossed home plate for the Hawks was in the second inning when Florez drove in Peterson. Florez and Kelly were the only Hawks to get a hit against Gardner-Webb.
The Shore will be back in action tomorrow morning (March 3) against fellow MEAC member South Carolina State at 10 a.m. They will follow that up with a matchup against Mercer at noon.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
