SALISBURY, Maryland — It was another late inning loss for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team against visiting Central Connecticut State University on Sunday, March 13. After being doubled up on the Blue Devils after six innings, the Hawks allowed three unanswered runs that allowed the visitors to take a 5-4 ten-inning win and the weekend sweep.

"It was a good series," head coach Brian Hollamon said. "Just unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of it for three games. Our guys know that we can compete in the NEC without a doubt."

It was the Blue Devils who struck first with a leadoff double and a RBI single on starter Evan Nibblett who proceeded to get himself out a two-on jam with a strikeout to end the threat.

A shakeup in the lineup allowed the Hawks to capitalize quickly in the bottom of the frame to get a jump on CCSU. Brian Cordell, who returned to action on Friday, drew a walk at the top of the order and was immediately driven in by a Dillon Oxyer double that would place him on third during the same play. During the next at bat, Brantley Cutler scored Oxyer with a single – good for his fourth RBI of the series.

In the top of the fourth CCSU was able to get a run back with another leadoff double and a steal to put a runner in scoring position that was driven in by an infield single to tie the game up at two-all.

The Hawks were able to take advantage of a Blue Devils throwing error in the bottom of the sixth to put Jason Brown at the plate and the left fielder proceeded to hit a two-run double for his first RBIs of the season, also making it 4-2 for UMES. Unfortunately, in the same frame, the Hawks squandered a two men on base situation due to a baserunning gaffe and a groundout.

Regret would be felt on not capitalizing on those two runners as CCSU would nickel and dime the Hawks for a run in both the seventh and eighth inning to tie up the game. The Blue Devils would grab their third run on an error before the seventh inning stretch and then tie it up in the eighth on a groundout with runners on.

Central Connecticut continued to hit and find themselves on the right side of plays in the top of the tenth following two leadoff singles and a fielder's choice. The Hawks defense would let reliever Caden Parker down with a two-error play on the left side of the infield that scored the fifth and game winning run due to UMES going one-two-three in the bottom of the inning.

Luke Garofalo would get the win for CCSU, going five innings out of the pen with four strikeouts to no walks and no runs. Despite going three innings with no earned runs given up, Parker was tagged with his second loss of the season.

Oxyer and Cutler led the way at the plate for the Hawks, both going 2-4 with a RBI – Cutler led the team over the weekend slashing .636/.667/.909 with seven hits, four RBIs, a walk and a home run.

"Just clean baseball all the way around," Hollamon said. "It's just unfortunate that we were on the wrong end of that (series) – our guys are competitors and they're disappointed, along with their coach."

The Hawks are back in action on Wednesday with a midweek at home with the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex.