BROOKVILLE, New York — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team picked up its first Northeast Conference victory on Saturday, March 18 by taking down Long Island University 5-4 in rousing fashion.
The win bumps the Hawks record to 3-15 (1-4 NEC) on the season, while LIU falls to 2-15 (1-4 NEC) with the rubber match coming at noon on Sunday (Match 19).
"I'm just glad to get a win to be honest with you," interim head coach
Shawn Phillips said. "I don't care where it's at, what conference – to win in baseball is just good to win."
Action got started early in the first as the Hawks jumped out to a one run lead when
Derrick Mayes II touched home following an
Alex McCoy single. The Sharks didn't stay down for long, tying the game up on a groundout RBI and then a double to right field gave the home squad a 1-3 lead over UMES.
"He's been putting the ball in play and being at the top of the order he's getting into scoring position off those doubles," Phillips said of Mayes. "It makes us able to do some things with the other people behind him and it creates some havoc for other defenses because he's already on second base so we're able to do things to get him to score with the guys behind him."
The Hawks were able to grab one back in the top of the third following a pair of singles by McCoy and
Brian Cordell by going for the double steal. Cordell was gunned down at second, but McCoy was successful in his attempt home, cutting LIU's lead by one.
Starter
Noah Covington kept LIU in check following the three-run first, shutting down the Sharks over his eight innings pitched by allowing just three earned runs, striking out four and allowing his first walk of the season.
"After giving up three runs (in the first) and able to go eight innings, he was clean," Phillips said. "With how it started to how it ended, you couldn't ask for a better outing."
After stranding six following the opening frame, the Hawk offense got things going in the seventh, aided by a few Shark misplays on defense. Mayes knocked his second leadoff double of the game and then scored on an error to tie things up at three-all, then Cordell slapped a single putting McCoy and Cutler across the plate.
Caden Parker came in for the Hawks to close out the ninth, giving UMES faithful a bit of a scare when a walk and wild pitch got the Sharks within a run. Taking the bulldog mentality with the tying run on third, Parker locked in to strike out two LIU batters and secured his third save of the season – as well as the Hawks third win.
McCoy was a monster for the Hawks, knocking three hits for an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored while Cordell had three RBIs. Mayes continued his tear with two hits, both leadoff doubles, and two walks en route to crossing the plate twice.
"When he's on base I think it makes our team just that much better," Phillips said of McCoy.
"Him getting on base with his speed and his athleticism it puts pressure on the defense. When he's going, we're going to be good."
Covington walked his first batter of the year, needing 30 innings of work to do so, but struck out four and allowed just three earned runs in the win. Parker struck out two while grabbing his save.
Sunday will be the deciding game in the series, with LIU taking the Friday meeting before the Hawks win on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon in Brookville, New York.
"The guys are excited, it doesn't matter what conference," Phillips said. "We gotta start getting some respect in the conference and the way to get respect is to win games."
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
