CARY, North Carolina — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team nearly split their day against North Carolina Central, but ultimately fell in both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, March 25 at Thomas Brooks Park.
The Hawks now sit at 6-15 on the season and 2-3 against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition. NCCU climbed to 7-20 overall and 5-0 in conference action.
Game One: NCCU 7, UMES 6
A sixth-inning rally nearly gave the Hawks a win in game one on Saturday, but the Eagles found late runs of their own to steal the victory.
After a scoreless first, the Eagles plated two in the bottom of the second inning to go in front. The Hawks plucked one back to open the third when Nola Mountain legged out a bunt single and Jaycee Holt was able to score on an error on the play, but a solo home run returned the lead to two as the Eagles led 3-1.
The Hawk bats began to rally in the fifth. Shanya Roberts singled down the left field line and moved up to second on a wild pitch with one away in the inning. Holt collected a base knock one out later, enough for the speedy Roberts to score on the play.
Holt moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball before the inning concluded, tying the conference contest at 3-3.
After blanking the Eagles in the bottom half, UMES came out firing again in the sixth. Kelsie Ekstrom drew a free pass and Morea Hodge entered to pinch run, promptly swiping second.
Ameenah Ballenger shot a single up the middle and Hodge rounded the bases to put the Hawks ahead. Katelyn Smitchko uncorked a double to right to move Ballenger to third and Ryan Merriwether's groundout scored her.
Kaylyn Sterling also doubled in the frame, pushing another run across for the Hawks. The team scored three runs on a trio of hits in the inning and took a 6-3 lead, needing six outs to claim game one.
The Eagles' late response came in the bottom of the sixth. NCCU opened with a pair of walks and a botched fielder's choice play to load the bases.
A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third, and a three-run homer gave the Eagles the lead for good in the next at-bat.
Holt, Mountain, Ballenger and Roberts all posted multi-hit performances in game one. Holt and Ballenger joined Sterling and Merriwether in the RBI-club in the loss.
The Eagles scored seven runs on six hits and committed two miscues, while UMES used 10 hits to score six runs with one error.
NCCU's Ashanti Eubanks (2-8) earned the win, scattering six runs (four earned) and 10 hits over seven innings, walking three and striking out two.
Ballenger (4-6) was handed the loss, working 5.1 innings and surrendering six earned runs, striking out six Eagles but walking nine in the effort.
Game Two: NCCU 9, UMES 1
The Hawk bats looked promising in the opening frame of game two. Holt singled to open the contest and moved up on a passed ball before Mountain reached on an error and Holt reached third.
Later in the frame, Ballenger grounded out to second and Holt scampered home on the play to give UMES a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, they could not find consistent success with the bats at the same pace as NCCU. The Eagles scored in every inning but the fourth, including a three-run first and a three-run fifth that triggered the run-rule ending.
Holt, Ballenger, Mountain, Ekstrom and Sterling all hit safely in game two.
The Eagles scored nine runs on seven hits and committed two errors, while the Hawks scored once on five hits with three miscues.
Jaden Davis (4-8) was handed the win in the contest, working five innings and allowing one run (zero earned) on five hits with three strikeouts.
Smitchko (2-9) endured the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in four frames of action. Smitchko walked three and struck out two in the outing.
Holt, Mountain and Ballenger each had three hits across the doubleheader. Ballenger drove in a pair of runs on the day, leading the Hawks.
The Hawks wrap the weekend series with the Eagles on Sunday, March 26. First pitch is slated for noon from Thomas Brooks Park.
