PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – The final midweek game of the season comes for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team against visiting George Mason on Tuesday, May 16.
The Hawks are currently on a four-game skid and sit at 16-33 (12-15 NEC), while the Patriots have a stout 27-22 (12-8 A-10) record with a five-game winning streak.
Honing on the Hawks
Although it is an out of conference match, the Hawks will use this Tuesday to attempt at a bounce back after dropping the last two games by double digits to Stonehill College. The last time the Patriots and Hawks squared off was in 1991, and the Hawks last win coming in 1989.
Brantley Cutler continues to lead the way for the Hawks at the plate with a .348/.407/.565 line that keeps him as one of the top hitters of the conference.
Alex McCoy continues to be a threat no matter where in the lineup at .257/.364/.353 and has been successful in 21 of 24 base stealing attempts.
Heating up has been shortstop
Dillon Oxyer, batting .348/.407/.435 in the month of May with a pair of doubles. He's moved up to fifth all time since 1992 in runs scored, third in base hits also sits in third in doubles as the true Ironhawk.
Expect a bullpen game from the Hawks in the meeting with George Mason, although preserving as many arms as possible with the quick turnaround against Delaware State on Thursday will be vital. Having to empty the pen the last two games will be a trial to navigate.
Manning Mason
George Mason is in one of its best seasons in recent years, poised to go over .500 for the first time since 2018. The Patriots have been tested as well, with a tough out of conference schedule that included East Carolina, Rutgers and Florida International.
The Hawks will see some solid hitters on Tuesday as James Quinn-Irons, South Trimble and Connor Dykstra all reach at over .400 and Reece Woody is not far behind at .373 as an OBP. Dykstra has been hit by an absurd 24 pitches, ranking him in the top three of the country.
Kyle Cincinnati, who threw out his 22
nd runner on Sunday, will have a busy day behind the plate as George Mason is one of the top base stealing teams is the country, ranking fifth in total and per game.
On the mound expect a bullpen game out of the Patriots as well, sticking to a weekend rotation and moving in young arms during the week like the Hawks.
How to Follow
First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. from the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury. Live Stats will be available through the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Department Website, as well as updates on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
