PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team begins its run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament against third-seeded North Carolina Central at Norfolk State on Wednesday, May 10.
The Hawks finished the regular season at 13-28 overall, going 8-10 in MEAC play. The Eagles enter the tourney at 15-32 at 12-7 in conference action.
It's a familiar opening matchup for both teams, who faced off in the first round of the tournament a season ago. The Eagles took the postseason matchup, 10-2.
During the regular season, the Hawks were swept by NCCU in two games on March 25. The third game of the series was halted due to inclement weather, a game that was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
"I think we match up well with NCCU this time around. The last time we played them, we really beat ourselves with giving up free passes and the long ball," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "That was over a month and a half ago and our team is not the same team."
Scouting the Eagles
The Eagles make their sixth consecutive trip to the conference tournament in 2023, taking at least one game in each of their last five appearances.
NCCU boasts one of the top freshman talents in the MEAC in Makiya Graves. The first-year utility player leads the Eagles in batting average (.363), doubles (7) and total bases (65).
In the circle, sophomores Jaden Davis and Ashanti Eubanks have combined to toss the bulk of the innings for the Eagles. Davis holds a team-best 3.27 ERA across 135.0 innings, while Eubanks totes a 5.89 ERA over 134.1 frames.
The Eagles boast the second-best batting average as a team in conference play, hitting .311 in 21 MEAC games. The NCCU offense also leads in home runs (16), walks (91), on-base percentage (419) and slugging (.454) during conference play.
Hot-Hitting Hawks
The Hawks make their second consecutive postseason appearance under Ross in 2023. Last season's trip was the first since the 2009 campaign.
Like the Eagles, the Hawks also reside above the .300 line in conference play. The squad ranks second in the conference in hits (175) and doubles (27) while posting a conference high nine triples in 21 MEAC games.
Ameenah Ballenger leads the Hawk hitters in average, batting a crisp .371 on the season with a team-high 35 RBI's. Ballenger also holds the best on-base percentage, reaching at a .426 clip.
Kelsie Ekstrom is just behind, toting a .361 hitting clip while leading the Hawks in doubles (10), walks (13), total bases (59) and OPS (.917). Ekstrom also shares the top spot in caught-stealing by, throwing out 11 runners on the season from behind the plate.
Nola Mountain and Jaycee Holt continue to produce as reliable contact bats at the top of the Hawk order. With .323 and .321 clips respectively, the duo has produced 84 hits and combined to score 58 runs.
In the circle, Ballenger has joined forces with Katelyn Smitchko to work all 244.2 possible innings this season. Ballenger leads the team in ERA, while Smitchko has worked a team-high 125.1 innings.
"The ladies have really put in the work this past week and are ready to compete," Ross said. "We emphasize taking this tournament one game at a time."
First pitch is slated for 9 a.m. from Norfolk State. If the Hawks come out on top against the Eagles, they will face top-seeded Morgan State at 3 p.m. later in the day.
If NCCU prevails, UMES will have to wait until Thursday, May 11 at 3 p.m. when they will face the loser of Wednesday's matchup between No. 2 Norfolk State and the winner of the Howard/Coppin game.
Follow the action on Twitter at @ESHawksSB.
