PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – Coming off a series split with Delaware State over the past weekend, the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team welcomes George Washington University to Perdue Stadium for the back half of a home-and-home on Wednesday (March 30).
During the first meeting with the Colonials (11-13), the Hawks (5-16) looked solid early until falling apart late, dropping the game 10-3 in Arlington, Virginia.
The Hawks are 3-21 against the Colonials since 2007, with the last win coming in 2015 at George Washington.
Gauging George Washington
The Colonials have yet to play a conference game this season but have stacked up against tough competition such as South Carolina and No. 7 Virginia in their 24 games played. Common opponents include Coppin State, with the Hawks visiting them this weekend for the first four games of 12 scheduled this spring, UMBC who the Hawks start a home-and-home with on April 13, and Georgetown, who the Colonials beat 11-7 on Tuesday (March 28).
George Washington has been solid at the plate, with six regulars hitting over .280 this season and all have at least a .350 OBP. Leading the way has been Steve DiTomaso batting .381/.411/.514 through 24 games played, including a 3-for-4 performance against the Hawks two weeks ago with two doubles and three runs scored.
Behind DiTomaso are the collection of Michael Ludowig, Derek Ripp, Anthony Frechette, Cade Fergus and Logan Leax, all of which are in the top-50 batting in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Fergus leads the team with seven steals at a 63% clip, doubles with nine and also in homers with four. Ripp has a .388 OBP, thanks to a team leading 13 walks. Ludowig has been perfect in steals with his six.
On the mound the Colonials have started six different pitchers, led by junior Connor Harris and his 5.26 ERA, followed by Justin Salt and Harrison Cohen with six starts. The pen has been led by the trio of Trevor Kunci, Chris Knight and Liam Best – Kunci has been lights out over 23.1 innings in 13 appearances, including one start.
Hawks Heating Up
This past week two Hawks were named to the MEAC Top Performers list –
Marcus Brown as Co-Player of the Week and Derrick Rabb Jr. as Co-Pitcher of the Week. Brown was dominant at the plate, hitting .333 over five games with eight RBIs and two doubles, while Rabb went a complete seven-inning game with six strikeouts, five swinging.
Ryan Howe continues to be the Hawks best batter while splitting time behind the plate and at designated hitter, putting up a .328/.378/.418 line but
Brantley Cutler isn't far behind with a .311/.421/.525 line.
Dillon Oxyer saw his average drop this past week but has been picking up walks as pitchers avoid his right-hand bat, but making them pay by being third on the team with 12 runs scored.
Andrew Revels is making his way back onto the field, the foul-off master had two pinch hit singles, driving in a run reach time during the series against Delaware State.
Nick Roets and
Luke Myers may be the best second base tandem in the conference, with Roets hitting .303/.467/.567 and Myers .333/.455/.389.
On the mound the team has started to find its grove with Rabb being a force his last two starts, while
Noah Covington took a hard luck loss against the Hornets while going seven full with just two earned runs and
Evan Nibblett picking up his second win of the season with a seven-inning complete game shutout on Friday (March 25).
In the pen it's all about
John Killmon and his .57 WHIP and perfect ERA over seven innings, the senior has some of the best pitch movement in the MEAC, striking out eighth over his appearances.
Blake Rebstock has been the solid long man over his last few appearances, pitching from his three-quarters slot to keep batters off balance.
Keep up with the action on Twitter via @eshawksbase.
