GAME 1
The Short Story: The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team opened up a three-game MEAC series on the road at South Carolina State in a crucial conference matchup.The host bulldogs would score in the early innings and hold on for the win over the Hawks.
THE GAME FACTS
Score: NCCU 5, UMES 1
Location: Orangeburg, S.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Bulldogs got on the board first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first to take the 1-0 lead.
- SCSU would add three more runs to their lead in the bottom of the third using two hits including a triple, extending their lead to 4-0.
- The Hawks saw a run come across the plate in the top of fifth, cutting into the Bulldogs lead. With two outs, Nevaeh Terrell doubled to second before stealing third. Morea Hodge followed with a single allowing Terrell to score cutting the score to 4-1.
- After SCSU added a run in their half of the fifth, both teams played a scoreless sixth. It looked like UMES could mount a comeback with a runner on third, but the Bulldogs got the final out for the 5-1 win in game one.
BY THE NUMBERS
GAME 2
The Short Story: The Hawks struck early in game two and kept the lead until a late SCSU run pushed enough runs across to complete the doubleheader sweep.
THE GAME FACTS
Score: NCCU 7, UMES 4
Location: Orangeburg, S.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With one out in the top of the first, Nola Mountain singled on a bunt and Kelsie Ekstrom singled, putting runners on both first and second. A delayed double steal by Mountain and Ekstrom would put runners on second and third before Ameenah Ballenger got an RBI that scored Mountain from third, putting the Hawks up 1-0.
- In the top of the second McKenzie Abiley led off with a single and would come around score. Terrell, who reached on an error earlier would score off of a Paige Perkins groundout, putting the Hawks ahead 3-0.
- Merriwether singled to third to lead off the fourth inning before stealing second and reaching third. Abiley followed with a single to second that scored Merriwether from third, giving UMES the 4-0 lead.
- The Bulldogs would finally get on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs on three hits, cutting the Hawk lead in half, 4-2.
- SCSU would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth with five runs on five hits including a pair of doubles. The Bulldogs would keep the Hawks off the board in the top of the seventh to secure the 7-4 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Abiley had two hits along with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Hawks at the plate.
COMING UP
- The teams will play the series finale on Saturday, April 20 at 12 p.m.
