PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team will be looking to extend their four game winning streak this weekend (March 26-27) as they host the North Carolina Central University Eagles for their second conference series of the season.
The two teams have not played each other since 2019. They will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at noon.
A win in game one on Saturday will give Eastern Shore their first winning streak of five or more games since 2009. The 2009 season was the last time the squad made the MEAC Tournament as that team went 21-18.
The team's work at the plate has been the catalyst for their current winning streak. They are batting .303 as a team in their last four contests and have outscored their opponents 19-8 in those games.
Eastern Shore's (6-17, 3-0 MEAC) sweep of their Route 13 rival Delaware State has the team sitting atop of the conference standings along with Morgan State after the first weekend of MEAC play. The sweep was punctuated with a walk-off win last Sunday (March 20) when sophomore Kelsie Ekstrom scored the winning run off a single by freshman Rebecca Miller.
The offense of the Hawks is the key to the team being atop the standings, but the team's work inside the circle has been strong as well. The squad is third in the conference in team ERA and strikeouts.
Graduate student Nasya Goodman has been the leader of the team's pitching staff as she is off to the best start of her Hawk career. She is in the top five of the MEAC in ERA, innings pitched and wins at this point in the season. Her next win of the season will give her five for the year and tie her best for a season since she has been in the maroon and gray.
North Carolina Central (5-16, 2-1 MEAC) is coming to Princess Anne after falling to Elon on March 22 in a midweek game. They won their opening conference series last weekend at home against South Carolina State.
Freshman outfielder Jaidyn Hamby is leading the Eagles offense this season as she bats .294 in her first season with the team. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Jaylah Barr is the reigning MEAC Player of the Week. She received the honor after batting .545 in five games last week with three home runs and five RBI.
Following their series with NCCU this weekend, Maryland Eastern Shore will be back in action on Wednesday (March 30) in a doubleheader at home versus Hampton beginning at 1 p.m.
