RADFORD, Virginia – Playing some of the best baseball of the season early against Radford University on Friday (March 4), the middle innings once again caught up to the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team in an 8-2 loss for the Hawks (0-9).
 
After a solid four frames of work, the wheels fell off for the Shore, allowing four runs in the fifth with two being unearned as the Highlanders pounced on mistakes. Senior starter Cameron Bratton (0-3) took the loss for the Hawks.
 
"I'm not dissatisfied with where we are," head coach Brian Hollamon said. "Would I like to obviously win, of course I would, but I think the guys are making progress. I think over the next two days Radford is going to have their hands full."
 
Radford struck first in the opening frame but the Hawks were quick to get it back in the second thanks to the heart of the order. Taking a walk and then moved to third off a Brantley Cutler double, Ryan Howe was driven in by a Riley Horner sacrifice fly, his fifth RBI of the season despite still trying to get his first hit – although the junior does have a .321 OBP so far.
 
"He's trying to get comfortable with Division 1 college pitching," Hollamon said. "He's doing a nice job of everything that was ask of him to do, hopefully he pops on soon."
 
In the fourth the Hawks struck again, started by Cutler's second double of the afternoon with two men out. Brian Cordell came to bat and reached first on an error, then Cutler's heads up base running on the same play caught the Highlanders off guard as he dashed home as the pitcher threw wide of the catcher.
 
Cutler would reach base two more times in the game, once on a single and another after taking one for the team with a hit-by-pitch.
 
The following innings weren't as kind for the Hawks, as the Highlanders were able to find their groove at the plate and use Shore mistakes against them for four runs. After a single and a walk, Radford put two on against Bratton and both runners were able to score on a double to center.
 
Radford continued to find the base paths and a costly error at first would then drive in two more runs against the Hawks, ending Bratton's day and bringing in freshman Ryan Davis for his first collegiate pitching appearance. Davis induced a flyout to left to slow the bleeding for the Hawks.
 
"The game was smooth sailing, every once in a while have an inning that's a bit of a struggle," Hollamon said. "The game is being played the way it's supposed to."
 
An ill-timed mistake and a sacrifice fly would give the Highlanders another run in the sixth, followed by a single and fielder's choice to give Radford two more runs to put the game seemingly out of reach for the Hawks.
 
Davis would close out the seventh inning, giving him 2.1 IP in his appearance while senior John Killmon would then pitch the eighth, but the Hawks were unable to get anything going at the plate, closing out the game.
 
"We finished the game out pretty solid," Hollamon said. "As long as we're making progress the way we're supposed to be making progress, I'm not upset."
 
Still seeking the first win of the season, the Hawks are back on the diamond Saturday (March 5) afternoon in their second game of the three-game set against Radford. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Radford.
 
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