PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — As the conference tournament race heats up, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team got a much needed win versus the Morgan State University Bears in the second game of the two teams' doubleheader on Friday (April 19).
"I continue to see so much growth in this team," head coach Karla Powell said. "But I still know we can play better and that the best is yet to come."
In game one, the Hawks (8-27, 3-7 MEAC) were able to get eight hits at the plate, but they were hampered by mistakes as they committed five errors. Eastern Shore would only give up one earned run in the contest.
Senior Breana Florez (Houston, TX) would bring the first runs across home plate for the Hawks via a two run home run in the third inning. Freshman Rachel Gingrich (Landisburg, PA) would tie the game at three later in the inning as she scored off of an error by Morgan State.
Entering the seventh inning, Eastern Shore trailed 6-3. Sophomore Stephanie Huff (Montoursville, PA) hit a double to score junior Kendal Turner (Edgewood, MD) and Rachel Gingrich to make the score 6-5. Huff would be thrown out on the play after being caught in a rundown between second and third base. Freshman Anissa Derifield (Woodbridge, VA), who went 3-4 in the game, singled to bring the winning run up to bat, but Maryland Eastern Shore would not complete the rally.
The Shore drew first blood in the second game as Derifield hit a RBI single to score Florez in the first inning to make the score 1-0. They would carry that lead into the third inning where the bats would explode for Maryland Eastern Shore.
After Derifield and junior Kamryn Lanier (Chester, VA) singled to place runners on first and second, sophomore pitcher Nasya Goodman (Willingboro, NJ) blasted a three run homer to dead center field to put the Hawks up 4-0.
Two batters later, junior Allison Gingrich kept the bats working with a single to left field. She would advance to second on an error and senior Daeshia Jones (Teaneck, NJ) would bring her home with a double to the left center field wall. Eastern Shore held a 5-0 advantage after three innings.
Morgan State would respond with runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. They would get the tying run to second base in the final inning, but Goodman and the Hawks defense would hold on to secure the 5-3 conference victory.
The Hawks and Bears will conclude their weekend series tomorrow (April 20). The game will begin at noon with senior day festivities beginning at 11:40 a.m.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
