CHESAPEAKE, Virginia — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore got out to a 1-0 lead after Traditional play during Saturday's matchup with North Carolina A&T State, but dropped both Baker competition and the best-of-seven Baker battle that followed during the Mega Match.
The Hawks (74-45) will now have to face Delaware State in a 7:30 a.m. matchup on Sunday (March 24) for the right to a rematch with the Aggies in the noon Championship game.
"About the seventh frame of the traditional game, we got behind the transition," Bandy said. "The girls started trying to win and you can't start trying to win a Mega Match in the seventh frame of the traditional game. We just started pushing too soon."
The Hawks opened the match strong, taking the traditional team game 931-925.
Brigitte Jacobs rolled a 209 for Maryland Eastern Shore.
Brigitte Jacobs (Freeport, Illinois) — bowling in the anchor position — finished with a 209, while
Cayla Hicks (Salem, Virginia) had a 194 in the victory. But late in the match, the Aggies were gaining.
Senior
Alexandra Hernandez (Maracaibo, Venezuela) put up three strikes in her 10
th frame that ended up being huge, then Jacobs closed it out.
Unfortunately, during Baker pinfall play the Hawks couldn't seem to find the momentum they needed and build on it despite Bandy juggling the lineup several times to try to light a spark.
They fell 989-941 and then got swept in Baker best-of-seven play, 4-0. With the win, the Aggies — the defending MEAC Champion — advanced to Sunday's championship match.
"We are going to get a team meeting tonight to kind of get over it," Bandy said. "I think that some of the girls have got to get it together mentally and be more passive in letting the match come to them and more aggressive so to speak with the way we attack the lanes. Tomorrow is a new day."
The morning match was supposed to begin at 8 a.m., but was pushed up to 7:30 a.m. so that there will be enough time before the Championship to get ready for the ESPN taping. The Hornets eliminated Monmouth in the afternoon 2-1 – taking the traditional team round 863-849 after a rally in the 10
th frame and winning the best-of-seven round 4-1.
"I think it is a good idea to get here early, get our feet underneath us and get warmed up," Bandy said. "We are going to be better tomorrow than we were today," Bandy said.
Sunday's championship final, played in Baker best-of-seven format, will be played at 12 p.m. and rebroadcast on Sunday, March 31 at 9 p.m. EST on ESPNU.
