EMMITSBURG, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader at Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, April 18 by finals of 4-1 and 10-6.
The Hawks dropped to 12-22 on the season, while the Mountaineers improved to 24-15 overall.
Game One: Mountaineers 4, Hawks 1
It took a few innings for either side to find success with the bats. The Hawks saw Nola Mountain reach on a bunt single and swipe second, the lone hit for UMES until the fourth inning.
The Mount were held hitless until the third. The hosts added two runs on a pair of hits in the inning to go in front, 2-0.
Ballenger slapped a single with two away in the fourth, but the Hawks were held off the board in the inning. Mount St. Mary's added another in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks got on the board in the sixth. Kiyaira Hicks singled to left to open the frame before reaching third on a pair of groundouts.
Kelsie Ekstrom sent a single to left center to score Hicks from third before the inning concluded, closing the gap to 3-1.
The Mount added an insurance run in the sixth and retired the Hawks in order in the final frame to get the victory.
Mountain, Ekstrom, Ballenger and Hicks picked up the hits for UMES, with Hicks scoring the lone run and Ekstrom driving her in. Mountain and Ah-Nayia Oglesby each picked up a stolen base in game one.
The Mount's Maddie Coleman (3-5) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits after pitching the complete seven innings. Ballenger (7-11) was tagged with the complete game loss, scattering four runs across her six innings of work.
Game Two: Mountaineers 10, Hawks 6
The bats were busier for both sides in the day's second contest. For the Mount, all the scoring came via five-run first and sixth innings.
After falling behind 5-0, the Hawks saw Ryan Merriwether reach on an error and advance to third on a pair of groundouts. Kaylyn Sterling came off the bench to pinch hit, slapping a single up the middle to score Merriwether from third.
Two more came across for UMES in the third inning. Mountain led the frame off with a four-pitch walk and Ekstrom picked up a base-knock to move her to second.
Ballenger followed suit with a single to short that loaded the bases. Abiley drove in Mountain with a sacrifice fly and Merriwether plated another run with a double to left field.
The comeback kids tied the contest in the fourth. Hicks legged out a bunt single and advanced on an error, and a Sterling single scored her. Jaycee Holt dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance Sterling and Mountain singled to put runners on the corners.
Ekstrom picked up another base hit to plate Sterling from third, tying the contest at 5-5.
The Hawks plated the go-ahead run in the sixth courtesy of a Mount error, but the five-run sixth gave the Mountaineers their final lead of the afternoon.
The Hawks outhit the Mount in game two, collecting 14 hits to their 12. 13 of the 14 hits were singles.
Kelsie Ekstrom showed out with a 4-for-4 day, all four being singles. Ballenger, Hicks and Sterling each picked up a pair of hits in the contest.
Holt, Mountain, Abiley and Merriwether all picked up hits as well. Merriwether's knock was a double.
The Mount's Avery Neuhart (8-3) earned the win in relief, working four innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits. Smitchko (5-11) was handed the loss, allowing nine earned runs in her complete game outing.
The Hawks return home for a weekend series against Howard, their final homestand of the season. Saturday, April 22 will be Shore Day, with all members of the Eastern Shore community invited to support the Hawks. There will be trivia between innings and T-shirts to be won as prizes.
Sunday, April 23 will be Senior Day. The team will honor its two seniors, Kaylyn Sterling and Ah-Nayia Oglesby, before their final home contest.
First pitch of the Saturday doubleheader against Howard is set for 1 p.m. with game two following approximately 30 minutes after its conclusion.
Follow @ESHawksSB for live coverage of all the action.
