JERSEY CITY, New Jersey — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team dropped both of its games against Saint Peter's on Wednesday, April 12 at Jaroschak Field in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Hawks fell to 10-19 on the season after the twin bill. The Peacocks improved to 19-11 overall after Wednesday's action.
Game One: Saint Peter's 11, UMES 3
The Hawks' first inning success continued in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader. Jaycee Holt and Nola Mountain picked up singles to open the day's first frame and Ryan Merriwether brought both home with a single up the middle to put UMES ahead, 2-0.
Ameenah Ballenger shut down the Peacocks in the bottom of the first, but the bats emerged for Saint Peter's throughout the remainder of the first game. The hosts plated four in the second, three in the third and three more in the fourth to take a 10-2 lead.
With one away in the fifth, Nola Mountain picked up her second hit of the game and swiped second soon after. An error allowed Mountain to sprint home and take UMES out of run-rule territory, but Saint Peter's got the run back in the bottom of the inning to claim the run-rule win.
The Hawks scored three runs on five hits and committed three errors. The Peacocks finished with 11 runs on 13 hits and a pair of miscues.
Mountain's two hits paced the Hawk bats in game one. She also scored two of the three runs plated by UMES.
Holt, Merriwether and Katelyn Smitchko also hit safely in the loss.
Sydney Senerchia (10-3) picked up the win for the Peacocks, allowing two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Ameenah Ballenger (6-9) was tagged with the loss, striking out six but allowing 11 runs (seven earned) over 4.0 innings.
Game Two: Saint Peter's 6, UMES 2
It was the hosts who would strike first in game two, plating a pair in the bottom of the first. The Peacocks pushed two more across in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.
The offenses took the next two frames off, with each side held hitless through the fourth and fifth innings. Saint Peter's added two more in the sixth to lead by six.
The Hawks got two back in the seventh. McKenzie Abiley singled to lead off the frame and Kiyaira Hicks reached on an error in her pinch-hit appearance to put runners on second and third.
Smitchko sent a sacrifice fly to left to score Abiley from third. Shanya Roberts came off the bench and singled to score Hicks and set the final score.
Holt and Abiley each had two-hit games in the day's second contest. Mountain and Roberts also picked up base knocks in the contest, while Smitchko and Roberts each collected an RBI.
Sydney Palmer (6-4) earned the win for the Peacocks, allowing four hits and a walk with five strikeouts across six innings of work.
Smitchko (4-10) went the distance for UMES in the circle, but was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) and striking out one.
The Hawks can put Wednesday behind them as they set their sights on the upcoming weekend series against Morgan State. The Bears make the trip to Salisbury, Maryland for a three-game slate beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15.
First pitch on Saturday is slated for 1 p.m. from the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex.
