MACON, Georgia – It was an afternoon to shake the rust off for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team as they traveled to Mercer University. Early mistakes sunk the Hawks as they fell to the Bears 13-4 on Friday (Feb. 14).
 
Fielding struggles in the first few innings caused a quick deficit for the Shore as they trailed 7-0 with only one run being earned after three.
 
Marcus Brown (Silver Spring, Maryland) had the first hit for the Hawks 2020 season with a lead-off double in the top of the third.
 
To start the fourth outfielder Brian Cordell (Pasadena, Maryland) had the first run of the season with a solo shot down the right field line. Brown added another run on a fielders choice to score Devynn Hancock (Salisbury, Maryland) in the same inning.
 
Transfer Evan Nibblett (Seaford, Delaware) came on to relieve starter Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey) in the third, handing in a solid three innings for his first game in maroon and silver before running into trouble.
 
Brown found himself padding his stat line in the sixth with his second double of the day and used his wheels to score from second following a single by catcher Tyler Woodward (Gaithersburg, Maryland).
 
Blake Rebstock (Pasadena, Maryland), Andre Bell (Detroit, Michigan) pitched an inning a piece in addition to freshman Riley Horner (Princess Anne, Maryland) getting his first bit of action in the eighth.
 
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore continues its road trip tomorrow (Feb. 15) with a doubleheader against Mercer University, the first game at 1 p.m. and the second following 30 minutes after.