SALISBURY, Maryland – After jumping out to a big lead early against visiting Delaware State University and battling to stay ahead late, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team was able to hold on for an important 7-6 win on Friday, May 19.
 
"We make things interesting for sure," interim head coach Shawn Phillips said. "The guys coming back from yesterday's loss, a tough defeat, and to jump out to a five-nothing lead, they came back and tied it but we kept plugging along."
 
With the win and other action across the conference, the Hawks (17-35, 13-16 NEC) stay alive in the search for a Northeast Conference Tournament berth going into the final game of the regular season on Saturday. It also marks the second season in a row the Hawks have won 17 games.
 
The Hawks struck in the first inning with a Dillon Oxyer double and was advanced to third on an error to second base that put Brantley Cutler on first. Cutler would go for the steal of second and on the throw down Oxyer would make his way home standing up for the first run of the game.
 
Tacking on another, Alex McCoy hit a single to right, making it a 2-0 ball game as Cutler dashed from second base all the way home.
 
In the bottom of the second once again the Hawks were able to take advantage of Hornet mistakes with Kyle Cincinnati on third and Bryan Widdowson on first thanks to a throwing error. Anders Brown smacked a fly ball to drive in Cincinnati, followed by a Brian Cordell single that drove in Widdowson from second after he advanced on another Hornet error.
 
Starter Kyle Speas cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth as a Hornet made it to third following a walk and a pair of balks, then was driven in on a groundout. Following another walk and then a throwing error, the Hornets grabbed their second run of the inning on a single, cutting the Hawk lead in half.
 
Delaware State tied it up in the fifth with back-to-back jacks to left field, one of the two run variety and then a solo shot.
 
Not staying down long, Marcus Brown delivered a home run to left field on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth, giving the Hawks the lead once again. Not wanting to be the only Brown to get in on the action, Anders Brown would hit a single with runners on, scoring McCoy from second, giving the Hawks an important insurance run and the 7-5 lead.
 
"That was a huge home run, especially when they tied it and then first pitch, he hits one out – it got the momentum back," Phillips said. "He's been hitting the ball really well for us the last few weeks for us, he finally got into one and it left the yard."
 
Blake Rebstock came in to pitch the sixth for the Hawks and delivered a clean inning by sitting the Hornets down in order, picking up a strikeout along the way.
 
In the seventh Porter Braddy was called upon and had a scoreless inning but was dinged for a run in the eighth when an error put runners on the corners and the Hornets scored on a wild pitch to get within a run.
 
"He attacked the zone, went after the hitters," Phillips said. "He's been pitching well the last couple of weeks. He's got the confidence right now and that's why I went with him."
 
With closer Caden Parker shut down for the day after pitching four innings on Thursday, Nick Gatton made his way from the bullpen to finish things off. Seeing just three Hornets, Gatton made quick work of Delaware State and secured his second save of the season.
 
"Parker was down so Gatton came in, got three up, three down and it was good to see," Phillips said.
 
It's do-or-die time for the Hawks in the regular season finale on Saturday, needing a win and some quality play out of Coppin State against Norfolk State. If both the Hawks and Eagles win, there will be a three-way tie for the sixth seed alongside Coppin and Merrimack College, who dropped a doubleheader against Sacred Heart on Friday. The Hawks would hold a 4-2 advantage in the cluster, with the Eagles at 3-3 and Warriors at 2-4.
 
Saturday will also be the final home game for eleven graduating Hawks with a ceremony being held at 12:30 p.m. before first pitch against the Hornets at one.
 
Live Stats will be provided with a link available on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Department website, as well as updates through Twitter via @ESHawksBase.