PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team makes the short trip to Salisbury University, hosting the South Carolina State Bulldogs for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 1).
The Hawks get back to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play after a midweek defeat to Big Ten foe University of Maryland. They enter at 6-16 overall with a 2-3 record in conference play.
South Carolina State makes the trip to Salisbury holding a 2-19 record in the campaign. The Bulldogs got their lone conference win so far against Delaware State last Saturday, March 25.
"This is a crucial weekend for us, we need to take a sweep," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "Taking three games this weekend will help us with standings going into conference."
Checking on the Hawks
With a four-game hit streak heading into Saturday's action, Ameenah Ballenger holds a .344 batting average on the season which ranks first on the squad. Ballenger put together a three-hit series against North Carolina Central last weekend, including a two-hit effort in game one on March 25.
Kelsie Ekstrom and Nola Mountain have also hit for high averages for the Hawks. The former's .327 clip is lifted by a .439 on-base percentage, ranking first on the team, while the latter leads the team with 10 stolen bases on the year.
Ekstrom also leads the team in doubles with seven on the season. Ah-Nayia Oglesby leads the Hawks in home runs with two.
Ballenger and Katelyn Smitchko have joined to toss all 124.0 possible innings this season. Smitchko has tossed five complete games in her debut season, while Ballenger boasts the team's best earned-run average.
The History
Dating back to 2007, the Hawks are 16-13 against the Bulldogs, but UMES has won the last 11 matchups and are undefeated against S.C. State under Ross.
The last win for SCSU came on March 15, 2016. The Bulldogs earned a 4-2 win on their home field in Orangeburg in a doubleheader split between the schools.
The two MEAC foes have already met once this season. Both teams competed at the Spartan Classic, hosted by USC Upstate from February 17 – 19, where UMES earned a 4-2 victory over the Bulldogs for their first win of the season.
The Hawks plated two runs in both the first and second innings in the win. Kiyaira Hicks slapped a two-run double to left in the first, while Ekstrom and Ballenger each drew bases-loaded walks in the second.
Smitchko earned her first career win in that February matchup with the Bulldogs, tossing seven innings while allowing just one earned run, striking out a pair.
"We played South Carolina State our first weekend out and did well," Ross said. "However, they have been playing well as of late and we need to not take anyone for granted."
First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Salisbury University. Game two is slated for an approximate start time of 4 p.m.
