DOVER, Delaware — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team split its doubleheader against Delaware State on Saturday (March 18) to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. Game one went to the Hornets, 4-3, while the Hawks nabbed game two by a 1-0 final.
Splitting the day makes Sunday's rubber match even more significant, as both the Hawks and Hornets stand at 5-11 on the season. UMES looks to claim its second series in as many weeks after taking two of three from Holy Cross last weekend.
"Always great to get a win," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "Our goal for the weekend is to take the series and keep building off the win. We saw quality outings from both pitchers that threw complete games. This is a big game tomorrow and a must win."
Game One: DSU 4, UMES 3
The Hawks had the makings of a rally in the top of the first. Kelsie Ekstrom earned the walk and Ameenah Ballenger singled to place runners on the corners with two outs.
Ballenger was able to swipe second, but the Hornets stranded both runners to prevent further damage.
The Hornets ultimately struck first, doubling home the game's first run in the bottom of the second inning. A frame later, the hosts followed a pair of bunt singles with a three-run homer to open a 4-0 advantage.
UMES battled to close the margin in the later innings. Ekstrom scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to bring the gap down to three and Ah-Nayia Oglesby doubled home Kaylyn Sterling in the fifth to make it 4-2.
That score held until the seventh. Ah-Nayia Oglesby started a run of her own by sending a base hit to left, moving up to second on a wild pitch and swiping third soon after. Jaycee Holt brought Oglesby home on the sacrifice fly, but the Hornets got the final out to close the game.
The Hornets recorded four runs on nine hits and a pair of errors, while the Hawks finished with three runs on four hits and three miscues.
Ballenger and Oglesby each finished with two hits in the game, but were the lone Hawks to record hits in the loss. Ryan Merriwether drew two walks in the contest.
Delaware State's Sydney Hoffman (W, 2-5) allowed three runs (one earned) in the full seven innings, walking three and striking out three.
Katelyn Smitchko (L, 2-6) went the distance for UMES and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in the circle.
Game Two: UMES 1, DSU 0
The Hawks needed little time to score the game's first and ultimately only run.
With one away, Nola Mountain drew a walk and stole second to get the wheels turning. One out later, Ballenger dropped a single down the left field line to bring Mountain home and put the Hawks ahead.
While that was the lone score for UMES, the Hawks had a plate approach to be proud of in the day's second game. The team drew seven walks and struck out just four times in the win.
From there, the Hawks clamped down. The Hornets collected five hits, but failed to move any of their baserunners beyond second base.
Ballenger (W, 3-5) tossed a gem, scattering the five DSU hits over the full seven frames while tying her career-high with eight strikeouts.
DSU's Mayanah McIntosh (L, 2-2) took a tough loss, allowing just the one run on four hits but walking seven in the losing effort.
The 16 combined strikeouts between Ballenger and Smitchko is the most in a two-game span for the team since March 26 of last season, when the Hawks used four different pitchers in a doubleheader against North Carolina Central to pile up 17 strikeouts.
First pitch of Sunday's (March 19) rubber match is set for noon from the DSU Softball Field.
