SALISBURY, Maryland – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team was unable to get it going on offense and defense during a Sunday (February 26) doubleheader against visiting Quinnipiac University.
After keeping it close in a 3-0 loss to open the day, the Hawks (0-8) were only able to put up three runs in a 14-3 defeat during game two where errors plagued the defense.
Game One
Evan Nibblett took a hard luck loss in game one of the day, putting up eight innings of one-run ball in which he struck out seven to no walks and six hits. The senior saw just four over the minimum during his first seven innings before the Bobcats were able to manufacture a run off of a double in what would be the game winner.
In the batter's box, the Hawks equally shared Quinnipiac's light hitting, with the best chance to score before the Bobcat's run when UMES stranded runners on second in third following a strike out.
Quinnipiac tacked on two more runs in the ninth against
Caden Parker who came in to relieve Nibblett, piecing one together following a walk and another on a ground out.
Game Two
While able to keep it close in the first game, the Hawks were cloaked in errors during game two of the afternoon to build a large deficit that a late spurt of offense was unable to overcome during a seven-inning affair.
Doubles and walks put the Hawks behind early following an opening strikeout from freshman
Joe Kelly, putting the Bobcats up 4-0 before UMES was able to take to the plate.
Things began to take an even sharper slope in the second inning when the Hawks committed three errors, leading to seven runs for the Bobcats – just one being earned. Quinnipiac was able to grab a run in the third and fourth on
Blake Rebstock, one of them being unearned, to make it 13-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Hawks were able to grab three runs in the bottom of the fourth following some timely hitting started off by
Carter Rieben and
Logan Harris' back-to-back singles.
Marcus Brown would drive in Rieben on a double,
Brantley Cutler would score Harris on a sacrifice fly and
Gabe Williams would pick up an RBI by scoring Brown on a ground out before the small rally dissipated.
Quinnipiac grabbed one more run in the seventh and final inning, as the Hawks were unable to get anything else going on offense, sealing the loss for UMES.
Next Up for the Hawks
There is no midweek for the Hawks, originally scheduled to play in Salisbury against Georgetown in a home-in-home, the game was replaced by the fourth of the weekend on Sunday afternoon – while UMES will still head to the Hoyas on May 9.
It will be an exciting weekend for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore starting Friday (March 3) as Manhattan and Lehigh both visit for six total games, each getting two against the other. The Hawks get Manhattan on Friday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., and Lehigh at 2:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. the next.
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
