PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – After a four-day gap in action, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team returns to the diamond to host Merrimack College for a three game Northeast Conference series starting on Friday, March 31.
It's the first time the programs have ever met, with Merrimack 5-14 (2-4 NEC) just recently making the transition to Division 1 during the 2019-20 school year and it being the Hawks (5-18, 3-6 NEC) first season in the NEC.
Honing on the Hawks
The Hawks got some well needed rest this week as a brutal stretch of seven games in nine days at home starting with Merrimack, followed by a midweek with Mount St. Mary's (April 4) on Tuesday and will wrap up with a series against Coppin State starting on Thursday (April 6).
Last time out the Hawks visited Sacred Heart University, falling in the opening doubleheader to open the weekend but taking the getaway game 4-1.
Brantley Cutler was named a NEC Prime Performer for his efforts against the Pioneers and Mount St. Mary's during the Wednesday, March 22 meeting. The right fielder batted .563/.611/.750 with nine hits, seven RBIs, four runs, three doubles and two walks over 16 at-bats.
For the season he is hitting .341/.387/.875, leading the team in hits and RBIs, while tied for first with
Ryan Howe and
Alex McCoy in home runs, and third in doubles behind Howe and
Derrick Mayes II.
Howe, Mayes and McCoy have all been a catalyst throughout the season for the Hawks. Howe drove in six runs for UMES last week, Mayes has hit six doubles over the past seven games and McCoy leads the team with seven stolen bases.
Evan Nibblett picked up his third win of the season against Sacred Heart, lowering his season ERA to 3.62 over six starts and 37.1 innings pitched. Currently in the NEC he sits at fourth in ERA and opposing batting average, second in innings pitched and has allowed the seventh fewest runs.
Friday starter
Noah Covington continues to show his control during his starts, he has allowed just one walk all season and currently leads the nation at .22 BB/9. Against Sacred Heart Covington struck out a season high eight batters over seven innings with just two earned runs against.
A workhorse this season has been
Nick Gatton, he leads the team with nine appearances, five of them being starts. The junior is striking out nearly a batter an inning and was clutch against the Pioneers with a bases loaded strikeout to hold the Hawks lead.
The freshman trio of
Porter Braddy,
Noland Genies and
Kyle Speas each have also picked up a start for the Hawks.
When called upon out of the pen to close games out for the Hawks,
Caden Parker has excelled, going a clean five-for-five in his save attempt. Interim head coach
Shawn Phillips has shown faith in Parker, pitching him on back-to-back days against LIU and for the two-inning save against SHU.
Behind the dish for the Hawks has been
Kyle Cincinnati for most games this season and his defensive ability has shown in the conference and on a national scale – the sophomore currently leads Division 1 baseball with 12 runners thrown out.
What's Up with the Warriors
After a cold start to the season, Merrimack is on a two-game winning streak with a 16-4 win over St. Bonaventure and a tight 7-6 win against Bryant.
The Warriors as a team are hitting slightly better than the Hawks with the ninth best batting average in the conference but are outslugging UMES with 14 home runs and are reaching base at a .370 clip. Cincinnati is going to have his hands full protecting the basepaths as the Warriors are very clean with their steals at 24-for-27.
Michael Golankiewicz will lead a balanced offense for Merrimack, as six of their regular starters have at least ten RBIs. The outfielder is hitting .338/.451/.527 with two home runs and a team leading six doubles.
The speedy Elliott Scott will be one to watch for as he sits in the top ten of the NEC in both stolen bases and triples – in the win against the Bonnies he reached third on hits twice. Cincinnati will have his hands full with Scott being a perfect nine-for-nine stealing.
A big bat in the lineup for the Warriors is Braydon Dolbashian, the infielder hit a three-run homer against Bryant on Wednesday, his fourth of the year.
On the mound the Warriors are led by Justin Butera, he's currently fifth in the NEC with a 4.58 ERA and third in batting average against at .240, slightly ahead of Nibblett. Butera prefers control over power, striking out just nine batters and walking eight over 19.2 innings.
Jack Collins have been solid out of the pen for Merrimack, he currently has a five-game streak without giving up a run. Cedric Gillette and Louis Cespedes have worked as swingmen, each picking up a start and appearances from the pen while holding WHIPs under 1.32 for the season.
How to Follow
The initial meeting on Friday (March 31) is set for 3:00 p.m. between the two teams, with Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and the series finale at noon on Sunday in Salisbury. Live Stats will be provided with a link available on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore website.
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
