BALTIMORE, MD – It was an afternoon to forget for the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team in Baltimore on Wednesday (April 13) against the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, falling 19-1 against the fellow state school on a hot and sticky day.
The Shore falls to 9-23 (8-8 MEAC) as it sets its sights on visiting Coppin State University at home starting on Thursday (April 14) for a four-game set.
A quick run was manufactured in the first inning by the Hawks when
Jason Brown laid down a perfect bunt on the first pitch of the game to reach first. Coming up behind the freshman,
Riley Horner did the same, sacrificing himself to put Brown on second with
Ryan Howe up to bat. On a 1-1 pitch, Howe added to his team leading RBI count by driving a ball down the left field line, just barely staying fair, to drive in Brown.
It wouldn't be a long lead for the Hawks with the Golden Retrievers not taking it easy on
Brantley Cutler's first career start on the mound. The home squad battered the lefty for four earned runs in just an inning pitch, with head coach
Brian Hollamon replacing him with
Alec Greenblatt before the bleeding could continue.
No Hawk pitcher was safe though against the America East opponent, with 18 more runs being scored in the game against the Hawks, all being earned. The offense couldn't muster much either, scattering just four hits, two by Howe and just two outside of the first inning.
A streak was also finished in the game with
Dillon Oxyer not taking the field for the first time since he stepped on campus, playing 153 games in a row, mostly at shortstop and recently with scattered appearances as a reliever.
With the loss, the Shore will have to find composure and find it quickly as Coppin State University comes to town for the second of three series scheduled for the season. In the first meeting the two squads split the weekend at 2-2, keeping Coppin ahead of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference by just a single game.
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