GAME 1
The Short Story:Â Playing their series a day earlier than usual due to the upcoming holiday, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team dropped both ends of a MEAC doubleheader on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C. to the Howard Bison.
THE GAME FACTS
Score:Â Howard 8, UMES 5
Location:Â Washington, D.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Bison jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings on just two hits, as Howard took advantage of three Hawk errors.Â
- In the top of the third, Jaycee Holt led off with a walk followed by a Nola Mountain single. With two outs, Ammenah Ballenger hit a deep single to left field that allowed Mountain to score from second, cutting into the Bison lead 5-1.
- The bottom of the fourth saw two more runs for Howard as the Bison led by six after four.
- Kelsie Ekstrom hit a deep sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth that score Mountain for a second time in the game. The at bat was with bases loaded and two outs.
- Needing six runs to keep the game going in the top of the seventh, the Hawks got three runs in the frame on a Ryan Merriwether single to left that scored Mountain for a third time. With two outs, Paige Perkins singled to the pitcher and collected two RBIs scoring both Merriwether and Katelyn Smitchko, bringing the Hawks within three at 8-5 before a strikeout closed out game one.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Mountain led the Hawks in the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles while coming around and scoring three times.Â
- Ballenger pitched the first five innings, striking out five.
GAME 2
The Short Story:Â The Hawks looked to rebound in game two of the doubleheader, but the Bison would jump out to an 8-0 lead and held on for the sweep of the day.
THE GAME FACTS
Score:Â Howard 8, UMES 2
Location:Â Washington, D.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Howard once again got on the scoreboard first with eight runs through the first three innings.
- With two outs and two runners on in the top of the fourth, Merriwether hit a long and deep double to left center, scoring both Ballenger and Mountain, cutting into the lead 8-2.Â
- After both teams were held scoreless in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth, the Bison were able to score two runs, including a walk off double for the 10-2 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Katelyn Smitchko pitched the first three innings with one strikeout and one walk.
UP NEXT
- The teams will play the final game of the series on Saturday at 12 p.m. back at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Complex in DC.