SALISBURY, Maryland – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team walked away with a 3-4 loss to visiting George Mason University in the final midweek of the season on Tuesday, May 16.
In a planned bullpen game, the Hawks held strong against one of the top conferences in the Atlantic-10.
"I think we pitched well today, they're a pretty good team," interim head coach
Shawn Phillips said. "Four runs (two earned) against a good team, top three in their conference, I think we did pretty good on the mound."
Pitcher
Blake Rebstock had two of his Division 1 firsts in the opening frame of the meeting with the Patriots, earning his first career start, as well as batted leadoff for his first career at-bat. It's the first time a Hawk has both started as a pitcher and designated hitter since 2018.
"It was good to see those guys having fun, getting that senior at bat, that's what I want to carry over," interim head coach
Shawn Phillips said. "We did that at Del State, I want the seniors to get their senior at bat."
While Rebstock was dinged for a run for his solo inning on the mound, he stayed in the DH position after being relieved by
Donovan Gevers in the second, who delivered two scoreless innings.
The Hawks took advantage of an opportunity in the bottom of the third as
Derrick Mayes II reached on a fielder's choice following leadoff walks by
Luke Myers and
Dillon Oxyer, but no out was made as the Patriot shortstop airmailed the throw to second, scoring Myers from second. Rebstock delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Oxyer from third after he advanced on the error during the previous play.
"He had a sacrifice fly that put us ahead there, it was good to see," Phillips said.
Evan Nibblett would get a few of his senior hacks later in the game, also his first collegiate at-bats.
George Mason was able to tie the game up with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fifth. A well hit double in the seventh and then a passed ball by the Hawks would have the Patriots doubled up on the Hawks.
A phenomenal play was turned by Myers and catcher
Kyle Cincinnati on a delayed Patriot steal, the sophomores combining to save a run. After the Patriot on first made his dash to second and Cincinnati made the throw down, the sure handed second baseman nailed the runner attempting from third for a high leverage out.
"We're trying to keep runs at a minimum," Phillips said. "Luke saw an opportunity to get him at home and Cincinnati made a good tag to cut down a run that gave us some momentum."
Carter Rieben kept the Hawks in the game with two innings of relief work in his first appearance out of the pen this season, striking out one.
Brantley Cutler continued to move up the single season (since 1992) record books for the Hawks with a solo shot to right field to get UMES within a run, but it wouldn't be enough as the Hawks would fall to the Patriots.
The right fielder is now tied for first with 108 total bases, in second with nine home runs and 46 RBIs, alongside being fourth in base hits at 65 and if the season ended today, he would be fifth at a .574 slugging percentage.
The Hawks currently sit just outside of a Northeast Conference Tournament berth in seventh behind Merrimack, who holds the head-to-head season series, as well as Sacred Heart and Long Island University who are tied in fourth – although none of those squads have locked up a playoff position. All four schools begin their final conference series beginning on Thursday, May 18.
With longtime Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Delaware State visiting this weekend, it will be scoreboard watching for the Hawks each day. Game one is set to begin at 3:00 p.m., Friday will see another 3:00 p.m. meeting and Saturday will have a 6:00 p.m. affair under the lights with the Hawk seniors and graduate students being recognized around 5:30 p.m. for their final home game.
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
