COVINGTON, Ga. -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team opened up the 2024 season in style with a 2-1 win over Grambling in the opening game of the HBCU Invitational. The Hawks dropped the nightcap to Prairie View 9-3 to get the split on day one. 

The win also marked the first career win for first-year head coach Aaron Robinson. 

Due to on site issues, limited stats were made available at this time. 

In game one against the Tigers, Ameenah Ballenger got the start and helped her own cause with an RBI triple in the first inning before coming around what would be the game-winning run. She also recorded at least six strikeouts. Katelyn Smitchko came in relief in the seventh inning and earned her first career save.

The Hawks looked to carry the momentum in their second game and got on the the board first in the bottom of the first before PVSU tied the game up and later would take a 9-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. UMES would stave off an early completion to their game with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Neither team was able to plate anymore runs as the Hawks dropped their second game, 9-3. 

UMES is back on the field tomorrow, Saturday, February 17 when they take on Alabama A&M at 12 noon and Alcorn State at 4 p.m.



* Story note, when game stats become available, the story will be updated to reflect details of the games.