HAMPTON, Virginia — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team grabbed a 6-4 win in game two of its final midweek doubleheader at Hampton University on Wednesday, April 26.
The Hawks dropped game one 11-3 before taking the win in the second contest. UMES moved to 13-26 on the season. The Pirates moved to 14-26 in the 2022-23 campaign.
Game One: Hampton 11, UMES 3
Despite the final score, the Hawks and Pirates kept things close throughout the bulk of Wednesday's first contest.
After retiring the first three Hawks in order, Hampton plated three in the bottom of the first inning. The 3-0 lead held until UMES got one back in the top of the third.
Morea Hodge was the spark in the inning, capping a 13-pitch plate appearance with a double to left field. The freshman advanced to third on a groundout and scampered home on a sacrifice fly from Kiyaira Hicks to close the gap to two.
The Hawks forced another run home in the fourth. Nola Mountain doubled to left center on the first pitch of the frame and Ameenah Ballenger collected a double in the opposite gap one out later to score her, setting the score at 3-2.
Hampton re-established the two-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth, but UMES wasted no time with their next response. With one out in the top of the sixth, Ballenger reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before scoring on an error.
The bottom of the sixth got away from the Hawks. With a 4-3 lead, Hampton piled on seven runs in the inning to force the run-rule ending.
Hodge led the Hawks with her second career multi-hit effort. She picked up a single and double while scoring for UMES in game one.
Five other Hawks hit safely in the contest, with Mountain and Ballenger each picking up doubles alongside Hodge. Ballenger, Hicks and Ryan Merriwether each drove in a run.
Hampton's Emily Workman (5-6) earned the win, spreading the three Hawk runs (two earned) across the full six frames.
Ballenger (7-14) was tagged with the loss after allowing four earned runs in five innings of work with four strikeouts. Katelyn Smitchko recorded the final two outs of the game but allowed seven runs (only two earned).
Game Two: UMES 6, Hampton 4
The Hawks started the second game of the afternoon on their terms, plating three in the top of the first.
In a switch-up from the usual, Mountain was picked to lead off the contest. She picked up a base hit and Jaycee Holt singled behind her to put runners on first and second for Kelsie Ekstrom in the three hole.
Ekstrom took advantage of the opportunity, slinging a two-run triple to left field to put UMES on the board. A sacrifice fly from Ryan Merriwether brought Ekstrom home, putting the Hawks ahead 3-0.
The hosts tacked on a pair in the bottom of the first, and the score held at 3-2 until the fourth.
With one gone in the top of the frame, Merriwether sent a base knock to right field. Another out later, McKenzie Abiley picked up a hit and Smitchko scored Merriwether with a single up the middle.
The Pirates responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, setting the line at 4-3.
UMES grabbed two more in the seventh. The two-out rally began with a single off Holt's bat and Ekstrom picked up a base hit to score her. Hicks entered to pinch run and made good on the chance, scoring on a single from Ballenger to give the Hawks a three-run advantage.
Hampton got one back in the bottom, but Smitchko slammed the door in the circle to secure the win and snap the recent skid.
Holt led the Hawk bats, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Ekstrom was close behind, grabbing two hits including a triple while collecting three RBI and scoring a run as well.
Merriwether also got two hits in the win with one RBI and a run scored.
Smitchko (6-12) earned the complete game victory, scattering three earned runs across her seven frames of work with a pair of punch outs.
Hampton's Jada Evans (4-9) got tagged with the loss, allowing six runs across 6.2 innings of work in game two.
The Hawks take the win into their final Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series of the season, traveling to Norfolk State for three games on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. First pitch comes at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with a 3 p.m. game to follow.
