PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – It's the first home midweek match up for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team as UMBC will be visiting on Wednesday, March 15.
The Hawks are coming off a weekend of three Northeast Conference losses to Central Connecticut State and are looking for their first midweek win since March 3, 2020 against the University of Delaware. Last season, UMES dropped both midweek meetings to the Retrievers.
Checking In on the Hawks
It was a closer than the box score indicated for the Hawks this past weekend against CCSU, as one crooked inning sunk UMES on Friday and extras were forced on Sunday.
Brantley Cutler had a phenomenal series, batting .636/.667/.909 with four RBIs and a home run – earning him a NEC Prime Performer nod.
At the plate Cutler leads the way for UMES with a .306/.351/.469 line and a team leading two home runs, 15 hits and 14 RBIs.
Alex McCoy has also been steady this season at .283/.353/.370 with a team leading five for five stolen bases.
Wednesday's starter has yet to be announced, as the weekend trio of
Noah Covington,
Nick Gatton and
Evan Nibblett were solid by scattering nine earned runs over 19 innings against the Blue Devils. Freshmen
Porter Braddy,
Joe Kelly and
Noland Genies have all picked up starts this spring.
Reading the Retrievers
UMBC enters the game riding on a two-game win streak with a doubleheader win over Mount St. Mary's and sit at 6-5 on the season. Aside from the Mount, the Retrievers and Hawks share common opponents in Navy, Coppin, Delaware State and Georgetown.
The Retrievers are led by Ian Diaz and his whopping 1.406 OPS at the dish with an impressive .611 OBP – last season Diaz went one for five against the Hawks. Freshman Leewood Molessa has also turned in an impressive 11 starts, batting .391/.440/.674 and a team leading 17 RBIs.
Joe Pucek is the only Retriever to start this season aside from the three weekend regulars, although no starter has been announced. He put together five innings of four run ball against Charleston earlier this spring.
Out of the pen, Joshua Rivera and Sam Daniels have been solid in their limited work with ERAs of under 3.50 – Daniels has struck out six in just 2.1 innings of action.
How to Follow
First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury with Live Stats also available through the University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletics website. You can also follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
