STATEN ISLAND, New York – Following a late inning loss in the series opener on Friday (April 14), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team was able to return the favor to Wagner College in an 6-3 win over the Seahawks on Saturday, April 15.
"We battled all game today," interim head coach
Shawn Phillips said. "Eighth inning we got four runs across and one in the ninth, that was the difference from yesterday's game where they got seven, eight runs late."
Wagner grabbed a run in the bottom of the first inning against starter
Noah Covington after placing runners on the corners. Going for a swipe at second, the Seahawks pulled off the double steal to take the first run of the game.
A fielder's choice and a single would put
Ryan Howe on third base in the top of the second, placing two on. Another single, this by
Luke Myers, would cause commotion on the base paths and Howe was tripped up at third leading to an obstruction call – as well as the Hawks first run of the day.
The Seahawks were able to tack on a run in the bottom of the third with a leadoff double to start off, then a two-out single would drive in the runner to put UMES down by one.
While the bats on both sides of the diamond were silent for much of the game, the Hawks offense was able to come alive in the top of the eighth following a leadoff walk that would eventually load the bases.
Kyle Cincinnati was the first to deliver in the eighth, knocking a two-run single to left field, putting the Hawks up for the first time in the game. Keeping things going, the Hawks loaded up the bases again to score on a wild pitch and added another on a
Marcus Brown pinch hit grounder.
"He had a good at bat there, got to three-two and fouled some pitches off until he found a pitch he could drive and got it down the line," Phillips said. "Scored some big runs there, got a great at bat where he battled and drove it."
A Wagner error in the ninth would grab another run for the Hawks after McCoy drew a walk, scoring from first during Howe's at-bat in on a throwing error at third.
Caden Parker would relieve Covington with one on in the bottom of the ninth, inducing a double play and a pop up to second to seal the win.
A huge difference in the game for the Hawks was the combo of Myers and Oxyer running the middle of the infield, turning a season high five double plays. With the Seahawk leadoff batter reaching six times, the two put on a clinic to help Covington and Parker work out of jams.
"Those are good for us and good for the pitchers as well," Phillips said.
Myers and Cincinnati both had two hits on the day, Cincinnati with two RBIs and Myers with one. McCoy and Howe both delivered two runs.
Covington pitched eight strong innings in his third win of the season – striking out two, allowing two walks and just two earned runs against.
"Noah kept us in the game," Phillips said. "He battled his behind off – didn't have his best stuff and he still gave us eight good innings – kept the offense still alive in a 2-1 game, enough for us to battle there."
The rubber match is set for noon on Sunday (April 16), with streaming available through NEC Front Row. Live Stats will also be provided through Wagner and updates available on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
