PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – It's a quick turnaround for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team as they host Quinnipiac University for a three-game set starting on Friday, February 24 in the Hawks home opener.
Originally slated to be played on Saturday and Sunday, the series was pushed a day early to avoid incoming weather. Friday will now be a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m. and Saturday (February 25) will be a single game also starting at 11:00 a.m.
Both sides of the ball will be seeking their first victory of the season as the Hawks (0-4, 0-0 NEC) are coming off a road loss to George Washington after being swept by North Carolina A&T in the season opening series, while the Bobcats (0-3, 0-0 MAAC) lost two games to Iowa and one to Indiana State during the Snowbird Classic in Florida.
Hawk Report
The Hawks gave a thriller to fans on Wednesday (February 22) in Arlington, Virginia against the Colonials after falling behind by nine runs after the fifth inning. Clawing back, UMES drove in five runs during the sixth to cut the GW lead and by the ninth had the tying run on first, only to fall just a handful of runs short in the end.
Riley Horner, a NEC Prime Performer in Week One of the season, continued his hot start on Wednesday, with two hits, two walks and two runs added to his stat line. After proving to be an excellent sacrifice hitter in 2022 and holding a .526 OBP so far, Horner seems to have found comfort in the two-hole.
Ryan Howe returned for the Hawks after missing the weekend series with North Carolina A&T, immediately having an impact with a three-for-five day with three runs, four RBIs and a double to kick off his spring.
On the mound, the Hawks will look for more stability from the starting staff over the weekend with three games squeezed into two days.
Evan Nibblett gave the Hawks six strong in his effort the Aggies with just three earned, while fellow weekend starters
Noah Covington and
Nick Gatton were hit hard for a combined 16 earned against.
One of the most impressive lines for the Hawks comes from a young but confident bullpen after holding North Carolina A&T without an earned run once put to work and limiting damage against George Washington. Freshman lefty
Porter Braddy leads the way with 2.2 innings thrown without an earned run given up, with transfer
Brandon Gomez also being notable during his two scoreless appearances.
Questioning Quinnipiac
It will be the first time that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Quinnipiac University have ever met on the diamond, the first of several new institutions that the Hawks will square up with this season.
Both programs are on similar trajectories as both have slowly improved records, Quinnipiac went 15-33 in 2022 after dry years of seven and three wins during the Covid-19 collegiate seasons.
The Bobcats got their season started against some stiff competition at the Snowbird Classic against a stout Iowa squad from the Big Ten that went 36-19 in 2022 and a competitive Indiana State team that went 26-22-1 in 2022 but also made the NCAA Tournament in 2021.
Following the loses last weekend, Quinnipiac will be looking to get its offense in gear after scoring just two runs over 26 innings in Florida – Sunday's meeting with Iowa ended after eight.
Sebastian Mueller leads the way for the Bobcats after singling in half of his eight at-bats last weekend, putting him with the only player on the team with an average or on-base higher than .250 for qualifiers early in the season.
Kyle Maves has shown quickness on the paths early, grabbing a triple and a stolen base at the Classic. Jared Zimbardo and Anthony Donofrio also are expected to be bats to watch – Zimbardo finished with 50 hits and a .380 OBP in 2022 and Donofrio was the Bobcats lone All-MAAC preseason honoree.
Tim Blaisdell threw the best game for Quinnipiac last week, going five to just one earned run with six strikeouts against Indiana State. Jimmy Hagan and Kevin Seitter also picked up starts in Florida but drew the short straws, getting matched up against Iowa in their losses.
How to Follow
Live Stats will be provided with a link available via
www.easternshorehawks.com, as well as Twitter updates via @ESHawksBase.
