WAPPINGERS FALLS, New York – A gritty performance by starter Noah Covington wouldn't be enough for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team, as the Hawks were stung by two runs early by Fairleigh Dickinson University for an 0-2 loss in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Wednesday, May 24.
 
The loss places the Hawks in the loser's bracket of the tournament, with an elimination game now lined up with the loser of Sacred Heart University and Long Island University tonight at 7 p.m. at Heritage Financial Park.
 
"The guys are in good spirits, they understand the situation we're in," interim head coach Shawn Phillips said.
 
FDU was able to grab some luck with a pair of free bases in the bottom of the first inning against Covington, as a wild pitch on a strikeout and a hit batter put two on. A sacrifice fly and a single later had the Hawks in the early 0-2 hole after one.
 
Covington went into lockdown mode for the Hawks following that initial first inning, allowing just three more base runners the rest of the game. He would turn in eight innings of two run ball, striking out eight along the way, one under his career high.
 
"I think he went out and showed what he can really do against a good hitting team," Phillips said. You can't ask for anything more in the big spot he was at. He's a great pitcher for us and he showed that today."
 
Opportunities came for the Hawks, but the offense was unable to capitalize, getting runners on in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings – only to leave them stranded each time. The Hawks best chance game in the top of the sixth with runners on the corners after Brantley Cutler and Marcus Brown singled, but it wasn't to be.
 
"Early on I think we were pressing a little bit, think we were a little bit nervous," Phillips said. "We settled in, started putting good contact in but that's the game. You're going to hit the ball hard sometimes and they don't fall in – they made some great defensive plays in the outfield."
 
Brown led the way with two hits, Bryan Widdowson would be the only Hawk to draw a walk.
 
Tonight's elimination game will be broadcast live on both ESPN3 and NEC Front Row, with Live Stats provided through the NEC. Updates are also available on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.