PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team got a pair of pitching gems on Saturday (April 30) as they swept the Norfolk State University Spartans in a doubleheader.
The Hawks won game one 4-3 and game two 5-1. Saturday's victories were the first time the program has beaten NSU since the 2017 season.
"We got two great pitching performances today and that's what it's going to take for us to continue to win," head coach Karla Ross said. "We've won three games in a row so we are streaking at the right time as we get ready for the MEAC Tournament."
Graduate student Nasya Goodman was the pitcher for The Shore in game one. She threw her tenth complete game of the season as she struck out 10 batters.
Eastern Shore's offense began to produce in the opening inning of the day. Sophomore Tatum Kresley laid down a bunt single and then stole second to get in scoring position. Her classmate Kelsie Ekstrom singled down the left field line after that to bring Kresley in to score. Two batters later, Goodman would get an RBI groundout to second base to score Ekstrom and put the team ahead 2-0.
The Spartans tied the game in the top of the second. The game would remain tied at two until the bottom of the fourth. Freshman McKenzie Abiley singled through the left side to get the go-ahead run aboard. Freshman Rebecca Miller hit a double to the right center fence after that to score Abiley and make the score 3-2.
After NSU would get that run back in the top of the fifth to tie the game at three, the Hawks would get one of their own in the fifth to take the lead again. Kresley once again singled and stole second to get in scoring position. Ekstrom would then single up the middle and get thrown out trying to advance to second, but not before Kresley crossed home plate to make the score 4-3.
Norfolk State got two runners aboard in the sixth before the Hawks ended the inning. The Shore would get a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the win.
Kresley and Ekstrom were dynamic as the first two hitters in the lineup in game one. They combined to go 5-6 with three runs, two stolen bases and two RBI in that contest.
In game two, sophomore Ameenah Ballenger threw her fourth complete game of the season in game two. She gave up just two hits in the game, both in the second inning, and had a stretch where she retired nine straight batters from the second to the fifth.
Norfolk State led 1-0 until the fourth inning after scoring their lone run in the second. The Hawks did not have a baserunner the first time through the lineup, but Kresley changed that with a leadoff double in the fourth. Ekstrom followed with a single to put runners on the corners.
Sophomore Julia Garcia came up next and reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error by NSU. Kresley would score on that play and tie the game at one.
One inning later, the Hawks would take the lead for good. Miller tripled to right center to start the inning. She would three batters later off an error. Graduate student Kaylyn Sterling would score the next run for the team on a wild pitch and make the score 3-1.
In the sixth inning, Eastern Shore took complete control. Garcia blasted her seventh home run of the season over the right field wall to begin the frame. Goodman followed that with a double to left center.
Freshman Nola Mountain would come in to pinch run for Goodman after she advanced to third on a fly out. Mountain would come in to score on a line drive single to left field by Miller. Mountain's run put the team up 5-1. The Spartans did not get a runner into scoring position in the seventh as the Hawks secured the win.
Kresley, Garcia and junior Tyanna Roberts all had doubles in game two. Garcia accounted for two RBI, while Miller along with sophomore Ah-Nayia Oglesby had one.
The two teams will finish their weekend series tomorrow (May 1) with a single game beginning at noon. The contest will serve as senior day and the regular season finale for Maryland Eastern Shore.
