NORFOLK, Virginia — Things started well for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday (May 11) against North Carolina Central in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Graduate student and starting pitcher Nasya Goodman (Willingboro, New Jersey) scored on a Tyanna Roberts (Woodbridge, Virginia) single in the bottom of the second to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead and was cruising through three innings on the mound.
But by the end of the fourth, the situation had changed. The Eagles (12-34) touched up Goodman (8-14) for three runs on two hits, an error, a walk and a hit batter putting the Hawks on their heels.
"I think there were a little bit of nerves," head coach Karla Ross said. "It's the first time they have been on this stage, so it takes a toll. The biggest thing about tournament time is that it doesn't matter who won what game during the regular season. That is something they are learning with their experience."
Central would tack on two more in the fifth chasing Goodman from the game and went on to a 10-2 victory and a spot Game 3 against No. 1 seed Morgan State.
"She threw well, but they hit her," Ross said. "We made some mistakes and we gave them opportunities in situations where you can't walk or hit somebody. That is how our game goes. Ninety-percent of leadoff walks will score and 75% of all walks. We gave up two in one inning and they both scored."
Goodman had pitched in all three previous matchups between the two squads.
"When you have seen the same pitcher that many times you start to time people up," Ross said. "That is what they did the second time through the lineup and if you are not playing clean it is going to hurt you."
Freshman Tatum Kresley (Alburtis, Pennsylvania) came in relief of Goodman with two out in the fifth, but the Hawks trailed by four runs by the time she got out of the inning.
They got one back in the bottom of the sixth when Goodman led off with a triple and then scored on a groundout by Nola Mountain (Surrey, British Columbia).
The squad seemed a little shell shocked as the Eagles tacked on five more runs in the top of the 7th just after the lead was cut to three.
"We have a staff and we are pitching by committee right now," Ross said. "Tatum got some innings today. She hit her spots, but we were making some mistakes with our movements in the field and that kind of hurt her."
The Hawks (18-32) put the leadoff runner on base in six of seven innings, but couldn't seem to get the hits when they needed them despite picking up seven on the day. It was the first time The Shore saw Eagles starter Jordan Davis (4-8) who went all seven, struck out four and gave up two earned. The Shore left six on base.
"We hit pretty well," Ross said. "We just couldn't score the runs. It is just about being productive, understanding your environment — there was a lot of wind and we hit a lot of ball in the air not using our grounds. We need to focus on the small things we did well and improve the things we didn't do well."
Kresley finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while Goodman scored twice and had the team's only extra-base hit. Goodman took the loss after giving up four earned in 4 2/3 innings. Kresley gave up five earned in 2 1/3 innings.
Had the Hawks won the game, they would have faced off with No. 1 seed Morgan State at 3 p.m. Wednesday, but instead they will have the rest of the day off.
"Had we lost the second game instead we would still have a loss and would have played double the amount of games on the day," Ross said. "So we are focused on tomorrow."
Junior Saje Kurpelia (Campbell River, British Columbia) will start Thursday's contest at noon against Norfolk State.
"She's been out, but we have been kind of saving her for this time," Ross said. "Nasya will probably throw some as well. It hurts that Ameenah (Ballenger) is out with an injury because she is our regular No. 2, but we are going to play it by ear, but we have a staff and they are ready."
Ross feels like the team is also better prepared for what they will face tomorrow.
"I think they are in the right mindset now," she said. "I think they were a little shocked because this is a team we beat two out of three and I think they were feeling like 'we should beat them.' And then you are like 'Oh.'
"We've gotten to this point and they just have to go play the game."
