The Short Story:  Despite the weather being nice, the bats were not to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team as the Hawks closed out the MEAC series with the Howard Bison with a 10-2 loss. 

THE GAME FACTS
Score: Howard 10, UMES 2
Location: Washington, D.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bison got on the board first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. They added four more in the bottom of the second to take a 6-0. 
• Ameenah Ballenger led off the top of the fourth for the Hawks with a single through the left side before Ryan Merriwether hit her own single to right field. 
• McKenzie Abiley got the third hit in a row for UMES to load the bases. Paige Perkins hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field that allowed all runners to advance and score Ballenger. Nevaeh Terrell followed with a sacrifice fly of her own to right field that score Merriwether, cutting the lead down to 6-2.
• Howard answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth before getting their second walk off of the series with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to win 10-2.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Merriwether went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored to lead the Hawks. Jaycee Holt, Nola Mountain, Ballenger, and Abiley also had hits for UMES.
• Kylee Lehman pitched the first 2.0 innings in the loss. 

UP NEXT 

• The Hawks are back home on April 6-7 with a MEAC series against Norfolk State. First pitche with the Spartans is at 1 p.m. from Field 1 at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury.