PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – A new season for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team opens this weekend (Feb. 14-16) as the Hawks take a trip to Georgia for a four-game series with Mercer University.

Third-year head coach Brian Hollamon has a large majority of his 2019 squad back for experienced depth both at the plate and on the hill while bringing in nine freshman who expect to make an early difference.

"We're a lot stronger than we were the year before," Hollamon said. "Hopefully those things will come back and show in the win-loss column. We've done well academically. We've done well throughout practice and we've got some experience."

Laden with upperclassmen, the infield will be anchored by familiar names Dillon Oxyer (Pasadena, Maryland), Nick Roets (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Marcus Brown (Silver Spring, Maryland). Junior Andrew Revels (Annapolis, Maryland), a transfer from Anne Arundel Community College, is currently eyeing the hot corner, the only position left open other than catcher due to graduation on the infield.

Oxyer led The Shore in runs scored (25), hits, runs batted in (23) and stolen bases (13) last season.

Don't expect a steady lineup though, as many of the incoming freshman also are battling for spots.

"The infield is going to be solid," Hollamon said. "In all those positions we've also got freshman that can step in at any given time. The back-up guys are just as talented, they just need to get a little bit of season to them."

Outfield will be equally game tested with upperclassmen manning Perdue Stadium's grass with a sprinkling of fresh faces from Hollamon's recruiting class. Brian Cordell (Pasadena, Maryland), Devynn Hancock (Salisbury, Maryland), Blake Coleman (Woodbridge, Virginia) and Avery Tunnell (Dover, Delaware) expect to bank on time together for a Hawk defensive strength.

New transfer Bryan Widdowson (Seaford, Delaware) from Delaware Tech will also see time in the outfield.

Cordell paced Eastern Shore in slugging percentage (.444) doubles, triples and total bases. Hancock led the squad in walks drawn (27).

"We've got some experience in the outfield and even the guys that are going to be backups they're all old as well," Hollamon said. "The experience at the plate, the experience of reading hitters in the outfield, they should have no problem with that."

Behind the plate will be the biggest loss for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore but a pair of returning sophomores in Tyler Woodward (Gaithersburg, Maryland) and Cole Hitch (Frankford, Delaware) plan on supporting the pitching staff in 2020.

Freshman Ryan Howe (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) also looks to get some time at the dish.

"I was worried about losing the whole catching crew, but they've come in and they're throwing the ball well, they're calling good games and they're controlling the defense," Hollamon said. "I have no doubt all three of them could go in and play successfully."

With just a handful of seniors departing the Shore from last season, the Hawks return all but one game start on the bump with new pitching coach Chris Bengel beginning to meld with the staff.

Bengel comes to the Shore by-way-of Dulaney High School in Baltimore County, where he coached three Baltimore County Pitcher of the Year award winners over his six seasons at the helm.

"He helped out all last semester on the program," Hollamon said. "The relationship with the players on the pitching staff have been great and the guys have adapted to him pretty well."

Hollamon has several options on who to roll out to start this season with Marty Tolson, Jr. (Stafford, Virginia), Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey), Keith Carpenter (Walled Lake, Michigan), Caleb Waltson (Princess Anne, Maryland) and Cameron Bratton (Cumberland, Maryland) all having experience starting in 2019.

Tolson was second on the team in ERA and led the team in innings pitched (64). Marshall led the team in wins and strikeouts.

"I'm feeling pretty confident with the experience we have on the mound," Hollamon said "I think they're gonna do a nice job. Dwayne, Marty, Caleb have all at one point started in the last three years. Keith came back and was a starter (about) a third of the way in last season."

Holloman expects Chris Sanders (Pocomoke, Maryland), Cory Poulsen (Bel Air, Maryland), Derrick Rabb, Jr. (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Andre Bell (Detroit, Michigan) to be his steady hands out of the pen. Freshmen Colby Buckheit (Pasadena, Maryland) and Noah Covington (Seaford, Delaware) join Anne Arundel Community College transfer Blake Rebstock (Pasadena, Maryland) as new pitching reinforcements on the Shore.

After returning from their trip against the Bears in Macon, the Hawks begin a homestand against University of Albany for a four-game weekend at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury on February 21. This will mark the third year the Delmarva Shorebirds have hosted the Hawks season.

"I think that's probably been the best decision we've made, playing there," Hollamon said. "They're comfortable, the Shorebirds make them feel welcome and we (go) in and there are no hiccups."