PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team welcomes Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Howard for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 22.
The Hawks enter the matchup with the Bison at 12-22 overall and 8-5 in MEAC play. Howard makes the trip from the nation's capital with a 13-24 record, going 5-9 thus far against their league opponents.
"We are still striving to get a top two seed, and it is still doable with these last two weeks," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "However, we know we need to show up and compete this weekend. The ladies are ready to compete in the last home series of the year and to give another outstanding performance."
Checking on the Hawks
As has been the case for the bulk of the season, the Hawks are among the nation's top base-stealers. The squad ranks 18th in the nation averaging 2.15 stolen bases per game, a mark which also leads the MEAC.
The Hawks boast two weekly award winners heading into the weekend series. Ameenah Ballenger earned the Pitcher of the Week nod after fanning 10 Morgan State batters in a nine-inning complete game, while Katelyn Smitchko came up big with the bat and in the circle to lock down her third Rookie of the Week honor this season.
Kelsie Ekstrom continues to dominate opposing pitching. The junior leads the Hawks with a .361/.422/.485 slash line on the season, ranking first in each category. Ekstrom has also thrown out 11 runners from behind the dish this year, ranking first in the conference and tied for 23rd in Division I.
Since the start of conference play, though, first-year outfielder Jaycee Holt has swung the hottest bat. The Birchwood, Tennessee native carries a blistering .464 batting clip in MEAC play with a 1.028 OPS. Ekstrom is the only Hawk with a higher OPS in league action (1.104).
Ballenger and Nola Mountain continue to provide consistent offense for the Hawks, with each of the pair hitting north of .350 in MEAC play. Ballenger has drawn seven free passes and has yet to go down on strikes in conference play.
The Hawks have dropped three straight but still sit in fourth in the conference standings. Howard currently slots in fifth with a chance to close the gap in the weekend series.
Scouting the Bison
The Bison have struggled to take consecutive games this season. Howard's last sweep of an opponent came back on March 13 against Bryant University, and they have failed to take more than a split of any conference series.
Howard does make the trip to Salisbury, Maryland with a win under their belts. The Bison held off Saint Peter's on April 18 at home to seize a 5-4 victory over the Peacocks.
Like the Hawks, Howard has several players batting above .300 on the year. Sophomore Sidney Fletcher has been the biggest offensive threat; she leads her squad with a .393/.455/.619 slash line.
Sophomore lefty Mia Gonzales leads the Bison with 112.0 innings of work in the circle. Her 3.81 ERA ranks first on the team.
The Series
Howard holds a 44-14 advantage in the all-time series against UMES, but the squads have split their last four matchups. The Hawks hold the edge so far this season, taking a 9-4 win from the Bison back on February 24 at the University of Virginia Cavalier Clash.
The Hawks saw Smitchko, Ballenger and McKenzie Abiley each pick up a pair of hits in the February victory. Ah-Nayia Oglesby demolished a grand slam as part of a six-run sixth inning that helped UMES put the contest away.
Ballenger earned the win in that game, working five innings and allowing just three runs. Smitchko came in in relief, surrendering just one hit and one unearned run in two frames.
"Playing Howard or any team again is always a tougher challenge," Ross said. "You have more information on them, but they have more information on you as well. We were very competitive the last time we played Howard, and solidifying the series would help boost our team in the standings."
In conjunction with Saturday's twin bill, the Hawks are inviting the Eastern Shore community to come out and support the team in its final home series. Saturday will also feature trivia questions between innings, with T-shirts to win as prizes.
The program will honor its two seniors, Kaylyn Sterling and Ah-Nayia Oglesby, before Sunday's contest as part of Senior Day festivities.
"On Saturday we have Shore Day, where we are trying to promote our program to the community, and Sunday is Senior Day," Ross said. "It's going to be a fun-filled weekend with family, friends, and the community to support."
First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. from the Henry S. Parker Complex. The second game is slotted in for 3 p.m. but will begin approximately 30 minutes after game one concludes.
