SALISBURY, Maryland – An early lead wasn't enough for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team against the visiting United States Naval Academy, falling 18-11 on Wednesday, April 12.
 
Picking up his 200^th game started for the Hawks, Dillon Oxyer got things started in the bottom of the first inning with his first collegiate home run to right field.
 
"Great job to do it, put us up one-nothing," interim head coach Shawn Phillips said. "I'm excited for him, proud of him. He's been a staple of this program for six years."
 
Navy was able to even the game up in the top of the third on a single to right left field with runners on first and second against Porter Braddy, who relieved starter Noland Genies in the frame.
 
The top of the Hawk order was able to grab back the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Brian Cordell led off with a single and was moved along on an Oxyer walk. Brantley Cutler was able to score Cordell with a single himself, then Oxyer was driven in on a fielder's choice by Alex McCoy.
 
Cordell grabbed an RBI himself in the fourth, scoring Riley Horner from second after he drew a walk and swiped a bag.
 
The offense kept rolling in the fifth inning, McCoy taking a pitch to leadoff and stealing second immediately. Catcher Kyle Cincinnati, who threw out his 14^th runner of the season earlier in the day, knocked a single up the middle to score McCoy.
 
With two outs, Luke Myers hit a double down the right field line for runners on first and second – leading Horner to grab two RBIs on a single to left, putting the Hawks up 7-1.
 
Things took a turn for the worse in the top of the seventh for the Hawks, as Navy rattled off 12 runs in the inning against the UMES bullpen. The Midshipmen weren't done in the eighth, grabbing another five runs to put the Hawks down by 11.
 
"We got up 7-1 and felt pretty good," Phillips said. "But I've got to do a better job of finding guys that are going to get the job done – I've got to hold myself accountable. "
 
Myers and Horner led off the bottom of the eighth with a pair of walks to show some life despite trailing. Oxyer added to his day with a double that drove in Myers and McCoy added a double to drive Horner across.
 
A few more runs were added by the Hawks in the ninth on an RBI single that scored Cincinnati and Myers scored on a wild pitch, but it wouldn't be enough of a rally to regain the lead.
 
Horner led the way at the plate for the Hawks with two hits, two runs, three RBIs and a walk. Cincinnati, Cordell, Myers and Oxyer each contributed two hits. Lee Byrd pitched a scoreless ninth in his first appearance as a Hawk.
 
"He saw the ball well," Phillips said of Horner. "He took some good ABs, it's good to see."
 
The Hawks have a tough test ahead with eleven games on the road, nine against Northeast Conference opponents, starting with Wagner on Friday (April 14).
 
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.