PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team split a pair of games with the Saint Peter's University Peacocks on Thursday afternoon (April 18). SPU won game one 13-6, while the Hawks captured game two 10-2.
Maryland Eastern Shore (7-26) had a season high 11 hits in game one. Freshman Anissa Derifield (Woodbridge, VA) went 3-4 in the contest to lead Eastern Shore in hits.
The Hawks fell behind 7-0 early in game one. Sophomore Stephanie Huff (Montoursville, PA) drove in a run and scored in the third inning to make the score 7-2. In the fifth inning, Huff drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to bring senior Breana Florez (Houston, TX) across home plate.
One inning later, the Hawks scored two runs to avoid dropping the game via the mercy rule as the Peacocks led 12-3 to begin the inning. Senior Daeshia Jones (Teaneck, NJ) started the inning with a single and stolen base.
The Peacocks had an error that allowed Jones to get to third and Florez doubled off the right field fence to make the score 12-4. Freshman Rachel Gingrich (Landisburg, PA) drove Florez in on the next at-bat. Fellow freshman Jordan Kelly (Bridgeton, NJ) drove in the final run of the game in the seventh as she hit her first career homerun over the center field fence.
The second game of the day was a pitcher's duel for the majority of the contest. The two teams combined for two hits through 4 ½ innings. The Shore would wake up at the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning and eventually get their season high in runs scored.
Junior Kamryn Lanier (Chester, VA) started the Hawks' rally with a one out double in the right center gap. Senior Kiana Peterson (Willingboro, NJ) singled and junior Allison Gingrich (Landisburg, PA) was hit by a pitch to load the bases after the Lanier hit.
Jones would come up next and she reached base via error and junior Kendal Turner (Edgewood, MD), who pinch ran for Lanier, and Peterson would score to give the Hawks a 2-1 advantage. Florez doubled to score Jones and Allison Gingrich on the next pitch to make the score 4-1.
Entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Eastern Shore held a 4-2 lead. Kelly was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Derifield was the next batter and reached on an error and Kelly would come across home plate to make the score 5-2.
Later in the inning, Jones would come to plate with the bases loaded and she singled through the left side to score Derifield. Florez singled to right field after that and another error from SPU after the hit would allow the bases to clear and make the score 9-2 with Florez ending up on third. Rachel Gingrich would hit a sacrifice fly on the next pitch to score Florez and end the game at 10-2 in the sixth inning.
"We responded well today in game two," head coach Karla Powell said. "I think this was big win for us because we showed that we can respond to adversity."
The Hawks will now face Morgan State tomorrow and Saturday (April 19-20) for a three game conference series at Hawk Field. A doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow to begin the series with a noon game on Saturday to conclude the series. Saturday's game will also serve as senior day for the Hawks that will graduate this semester.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
