NEWARK, Delaware — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore dug itself a deep hole to open Wednesday (April 24) night's battle at The University of Delaware's Bob Hannah Stadium. UD touched up Hawks junior starter Caleb Walston (Princess Anne, Maryland) for five runs on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings and went on to an 8-2 victory.

The Hawks (10-34) got the offense going in the third and fourth innings, while freshman Chris Sanders (Pocomoke, Maryland) held the Blue Hens to one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Designated hitter Matt Smith (Salisbury, Maryland) led off the third with a single followed by second baseman Nick Roets (Charlotte, North Carolina) who doubled to put runners at second and third. Brian Cordell (Pasadena, Maryland) hit an RBI grounder before Blue Hens starter Allen Winston worked his way out of the inning.

The Hawks carried some momentum into the fourth as they loaded the bases on a double by catcher Carson Davis (Oakboro, North Carolina), a walk by third baseman D.J. Doherty (Harbeson, Delaware) and a single by right fielder Devynn Hancock (Salisbury, Maryland).

But freshman righty Tommy Pomatto managed to escape the inning with much less damage than could be expected. Marcus Brown (Silver Spring, Maryland) grounded into a double play scoring Davis. Smith then walked and Roets grounded into an out to end the threat.

Meanwhile Delaware — which had tacked on a run in the third to make it 6-2 — scored twice more in the fifth.

Davis led the Hawks with a pair of hits in three at bats and a run scored.

Freshmen Corey Poulson (Bel Air, Maryland) and junior Johnny Franco (Hackettstown, New Jersey) each pitched an inning of scoreless relief for Eastern Shore with a pair of strikeouts apiece.

Eastern Shore will next be in action at Coppin State for the three game series beginning Friday (April 26) at 3 p.m. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover, Maryland.