SALISBURY, Maryland — On Saturday (March 19), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team began their conference slate of games with two impressive wins over the Delaware State University Hornets at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. They won game one in six innings by a score of 8-0 and rallied back in game two to win 2-1.
Saturday's wins were the first victory over the Hornets since 2016. The wins also marked the first time the squad has won twice over Delaware State in the same season since 2009.
"Today we got two big wins and it's the first time in a while for the program to take two wins on the first day (of a series)," head coach Karla Powell said. "We are clicking at the right time and need to bring the same energy and fight tomorrow to secure the sweep."
Graduate student Nasya Goodman threw her second complete game shutout of the season in game one. She struck out three batters, while allowing just two hits and one walk.
The team got on the board for the first time in the second inning. Sophomore Kelsie Ekstrom hit a one-out single to become the first baserunner of the inning. She would eventually score the first run of the game on a fielder's choice off the bat of freshman Rebecca Miller. Freshman McKenzie Abiley would score on the next at-bat as sophomore Ah-Nayia Oglesby hit an RBI groundout to second base.
One inning later, freshman Nola Mountain and sophomore Julia Garcia hit back to back singles to put runners on the corners to start the frame. Freshman Kylee Lehman would then hit an RBI groundout to shortstop to put the Hawks up 3-0.
In the fifth inning, Eastern Shore capitalized on two errors by DSU to grab two more runs. The first run was scored by Mountain off an error. The second run was scored by sophomore Ameenah Ballenger as Ekstrom singled to right field.
The Shore would end the contest an inning later with a bang. The first run came from a solo homer by Oglesby to left field. Sophomore Tatum Kresley came up and singled then stole a base to end up on second. Mountain then hit a single to right center to bring Kresley across home plate.
Mountain would get to second via a groundout. Lehman then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Ballenger came to the batter box next and singled to center field to score Mountain and end the game.
Seven different Hawks got a hit in game one with Mountain, Garcia and Ekstrom each getting two to lead the charge.
Delaware State would grab an early lead in the second contest as they scored their lone run in the first inning. The Hornets would hold that lead until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kresley reached base on an error and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the frame. Garcia then crushed a double to the left field wall to tie the game at one as Kresley scored.
Lehman then came to the plate with the go ahead run at second. She delivered a single to center field to score Garcia and make the score 2-1.
Ballenger would then shut the door on any potential Delaware State rally. After pitching a 1-2-3 sixth inning, she allowed just one base runner in the seventh via a walk before striking out the final batter and leaving the tying run stranded at second base. Ballenger would get her first save of the season as Lehman picked up her first win of the season in the second game.
Once again seven different Hawks had a hit as Garcia led the way going 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Along with getting the win inside the circle, Lehman went 1-2 at the plate with a walk and a RBI.
Maryland Eastern Shore will be looking for the series sweep tomorrow (March 20) at noon. That game will also be played at Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury.
