PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — After two weeks away from home, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team returns to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Wednesday (March 10) by welcoming the United States Naval Academy for the first game of a home-and-home.
It was a rough weekend for the Hawks (4-10), visiting a stout University of North Carolina at Greensboro team and returning without any wins following a three-game road win streak.
With the Naval Academy visiting it will start the beginning of a 10-game home stand for The Shore with the final three games being the Mideastern Athletic Conference opener when Norfolk State University comes to town. It will be a difficult start of the stand for the Hawks as Navy enters on a 13-game win streak since a season opening loss to Georgetown.
Getting his first start of the year will be
Cameron Bratton (Cumberland, Maryland), with all 19 of his career appearances coming in relief. In three showings out of the pen in 2020, the sophomore has compiled a 4.50 ERA over 1.3 innings and a strikeout.
The pen was hurt a bit over the weekend but
Noah Covington (Seaford, Delaware) and
Cory Poulsen (Bel Air, Maryland) were able to keep their season ERA clean over their two appearances.
Navy pitching has been solid even after graduating standout Noah Song who was able to play some Minor League Baseball last season after being drafted in the fourth round before having to return to his Naval commitment. Playing their fifth game in six days may put some strain on the Midshipmen though, opening up the backend of the rotation and pen.
Offense has been no issue for the Academy as they have doubled up on opponents 91-45 so far this season, being led by a trio of seniors who have started each game in Evan Lowery, Jacob Williamson and Zach Biggers. Overall Navy is destroying the Patriot League in runs, RBI, walks and on-base.
On the field, the Midshipmen have committed just a total of five errors in 14 games.
Even with the loses over the weekend the Hawks remained active at the plate with
Brian Cordell (Pasadena, Maryland) keeping his 14-game on base streak alive by going .533 on the weekend in 15 at-bats.
Overall the team is hitting .241/.331/.346 nearly a third of the way through the season and lead the MEAC in stolen base percentage at nearly 71%.
History hasn't treated The Shore well against Navy, posting just a 3-27 record against the Midshipmen and the last victory coming on neutral ground in 2015 in 10 innings, last season the Hawks were outscored 7-29 in a home-and-home.
St. Bonaventure awaits the Hawks following Navy, a team that also swept common opponent in Mount St. Mary's, a three game set that opened the season for the Bonnies.
