SALISBURY, Maryland – It was another extra inning loss for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team against visiting Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday, May 6. After tying the game up in the eighth inning, the Hawks would fall to the Knights 3-5 in eleven innings of Northeast Conference play.
 
The Hawks have had three straight extra-inning games, falling to the opponent in each to drop them to 15-29 (11-12 NEC).
 
"We've been in position to win those games, we just can't seem to win those games," interim head coach Shawn Phillips said. "We're down to the stretch right now, we've got to find ways to win those games, we've got to figure it out."
 
The Knights were able to get on the board first against the Hawks, knocking a two-run homer against starter Noah Covington following a fielder's choice that put a runner on.
 
"He gave up the two-run homer and then he settled in," Phillips said.
 
A two-out rally was put together by the Hawks in the bottom of the third when Brian Cordell notched a single through the right side. A perfect bunt by Luke Myers moved over Cordell and with Brantley Cutler's 44^th RBI of the season, this time on a single to the opposite field to get the Hawks a run.
 
Marcus Brown hit a solid single to second base to load the bases for Kyle Cincinnati, who worked a walk that tied the game at two-all.
 
FDU got two on in the top of the seventh with a single and a walk, putting a runner in scoring position against Covington. A single drove in the runner from second, giving the Knights a one-run lead, but an impressive throw by Derrick Mayes II nailed down a Knight trying to advance to third.
 
Once again, in the bottom of the eighth, Brown was able to single, this time of the leadoff variety, and was pinch run for by Blake Rebstock in his first ever collegiate appearance on the bases. Kyle Cincinnati reached on a fielder's choice that still advanced Rebstock due to an airmailed throw and Dillon Oxyer moved the runners over for Jason Brown, who reached on a fielder's choice – scoring Rebstock to tie the game up.
 
Caden Parker came in to relieve Covington in the top of the eighth and was able to spin two scoreless but ran into trouble as the game moved into extras. A single through the right side put a threat on, only for a Knight home run to put FDU up by two.
 
"He pitched well, eight innings, can't ask anything more – he did his job," Phillips said of Covington. "He did what he had to do to keep us in the game."
 
A leadoff single by Mayes in the bottom of the eleventh would not be enough, as the Hawks were unable to get another runner on base.
 
"We've gotta hit the baseball, we're not going to win many games if we don't hit the baseball," Phillips said. "We've got to figure out ways to hit the baseball and win games against quality teams – until we start hitting the baseball we're going to keep losing these games, that's the sad part."
 
The Hawks have one more chance against the Knights, with the getaway game coming at noon on Sunday (May 6) and Evan Nibblett is expected to take the mound. Live Stats will be provided with a link on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Department website.
 
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.