SALISBURY, Maryland — Trailing by three and down to their final three outs, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team needed some late game magic against Holy Cross on Sunday (March 12).
And late game magic they found.
The Crusaders led by a run heading to the game's final frame and added two insurance runs in the top half to grow the lead to 7-4.
Paige Perkins drew a walk to lead off the bottom half. Ah-Nayia Oglesby showed her power and speed in the next at-bat, ripping a triple that scored Perkins from first.
Jaycee Holt earned a free pass to force a Holy Cross pitching change, but by then the Hawks were inevitable. Nola Mountain singled to load the bases and a double to right-center by Kelsie Ekstrom wiped them clean and ended the contest, an 8-7 walk-off win that also clinched the series.
"Today is the day you live for as a player, coach, or home team fan," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "The fight and determination they had to win today was amazing. They never gave up! This is the momentum we need to go into conference play next weekend at Delaware State."
The Hawk bats were hot all day long. In the first inning, UMES plated three on four hits, with Ameenah Ballenger, Katelyn Smitchko and Ryan Merriwether each driving in a run.
Holy Cross tied the game in the third and eventually went ahead in the fourth, 4-3.
The Hawks responded in the fifth. Perkins collected her first career hit, a single to open the inning, and was pinch-run for by Shanya Roberts. Roberts helped herself to second base before Oglesby doubled to bring her home and tie the game once more.
The Crusaders did not go quietly. They grabbed an RBI-double of their own in the top of the sixth to retake the lead and to set up the game's dramatic finish.
The Hawks raked, scoring eight runs on 10 hits in the contest. Holy Cross pushed seven runs across on five hits.
There were miscues aplenty in Sunday's matchup. The sides combined for five errors and of the 15 runs scored in the game, just 10 were earned.
Seven Hawks hit safely in the winning effort, with Mountain, Smitchko and Oglesby boasting multi-hit days. Ekstrom and Oglesby were essential for the Hawks, combining for five RBI's in the victory.
Smitchko earned the win in relief of Ballenger, working 3.2 innings while allowing three runs (only one earned) on two hits. Holy Cross's Audrey Gusel was tagged with a tough loss, inheriting two runners but ultimately placing and allowing Mountain's go-ahead run on Ekstrom's double.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 18, opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a three-game weekend bash against Delaware State. The first of two is slated for a noon first pitch from Dover, Delaware.
