NORFOLK, Virginia — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team exploded for nine runs in the fourth on their way to a historic 11-7 victory over Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday, May 11.
The tournament triumph was the first for the program in 28 years, dating back to the 1995 season. It is the first for head coach Karla Ross, who has her squad in the conference dance for the second straight postseason.
"Today was a day that I will remember forever, our first tournament win since 1995," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "It's something that I've strived for with this program since I took it over. It just shows the growth that we've had with the limited resources we have and what we can do."
It was the Hawks who struck first, plating their first run of the afternoon in the top of the third inning.
Ryan Merriwether opened the frame by drawing a free pass before a sacrifice bunt from Kiyaira Hicks moved her to second. One out later, Jaycee Holt doubled her home to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Morgan State responded in the bottom of the inning, using two hits to score a pair in the third. Chaos ensued in the top of the fourth.
Kelsie Ekstrom reached second on an inning-opening error and Ameenah Ballenger stung a double to left to bring her in. McKenzie Abiley reached on an error after and Ballenger moved to third, with Abiley stealing second to put two in scoring position for the Hawks.
One out later, a two-miscue play by Morgan allowed both Ballenger and Abiley to score and give UMES a 4-2 lead. Three more hits and three more errors made a big inning even bigger for the Hawks.
Hicks reached on an error and stole second, putting Hawks on second and third once more. Ah-Nayia Oglesby doubled to center and brought Hicks and Merriwether home with the help of a wild throw.
Oglesby scored on a Holt groundout, just the second out of the inning. Nola Mountain reached on a throwing error and the throw rolled all the way into the right field corner, allowing Mountain to round the bases and score.
A two-RBI double from McKenzie Abiley put the Hawks up 10-2 before the final out of the frame was recorded. When the dust settled, UMES put up nine runs on four hits and eight Morgan errors.
The Hawks added an insurance run in the fifth, with Oglesby singling to move Hicks to third and a throwing error allowing her to spring home. The Bears added two in the fifth and three in the sixth, but Ballenger clamped down in the circle to secure the historic victory.
Oglesby and Holt led the Hawk offense on Thursday. The outfield duo combined for four hits including two doubles and five RBIs in the nine-hole and leadoff spot, respectively.
Ekstrom picked up a triple, while Ballenger and Abiley doubled in the win. Abiley drove in a pair of Hawk runs, while Ballenger, Merriwether and Mountain each added one RBI.
The Hawks stole six bags in the afternoon. Hicks led the charge with two, while Holt, Ballenger, Abiley and Morea Hodge each nabbed one.
Ballenger (8-14) went the distance and earned the win, fanning five Bears in her seven frames of action.
Morgan State's Victoria Fletcher (9-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (one earned) in 3.1 innings in the circle.
"I am so proud of this program for not only winning today, but knocking out the number one seed," Ross said. "They continued to push every single inning, they took the momentum and just went with it."
With the win, the Hawks advance to the penultimate day of the tournament on Friday, May 12. Howard's 5-1 win over Norfolk State on Thursday afternoon sets the table for the fifth meeting between the Hawks and Bison this season.
First pitch between Howard and UMES is slated for noon on Friday. Follow all the action on Twitter at @ESHawksSB.
