GAME 1

The Short Story:  The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team opened up a key MEAC series with Delaware State in style with a 7-3 win over the Hornets. 

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 7, DSU 3
Location: Salisbury, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jaycee Holt of the Hawks on the board first in the bottom of the first. She led off with a single through the left side before stealing second. A hard his single by Kelsie Ekstrom up the middle would allow a speedy Holt to come all the way around and score, putting UMES up 1-0.
• McKenzie Abiley singled to lead off the second for the Hawks before stealing second herself. When she safely stole third, the errant throw down to the base went by and allowed Abiley to score on an error, putting the Hawks ahead 2-0. 
• Delaware State would do all their damage in the game in the top of the third. The Hawks would tie the game up before an interference call allowed a third Hornet run to safely cross the plate, giving the visitors their only lead of the game, 3-2.
• Nola Mountain would add another run for UMES in the bottom of the frame after collecting a single and stolen base. She would score on an Ameenah Ballenger single down the right field line.
• After a 1-2-3 inning in fourth for DSU, the Hawks kept on scoring with four runs on four hits. Navaeh Terrell, Holt, Mountain and Ekstrom all got hits with Morea Hodge, Terrell, Holt, and Mountain all scoring to put UMES up 7-3.
• Both teams would prevent the others from scoring in the fifth through seventh innings, giving the Hawks the game one win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Mountain led the Hawks with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBIs and two runs scored. 
• She was one of three to get two RBIs, being joined by both Ekstrom and Ballenger.
• Holt and Ekstrom also join her with a multi-hit game, each. 
• Ballenger came in and pitched the final five innings and collected three strikeouts while walking none to get the win.

GAME 2

The Short Story:  The Hornets were able to prevent the sweep on the day with a 9-7 win in game two of the crucial series with the Hawks.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: DSU 9, UMES 7
Location: Salisbury, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• There was lots of scoring to be had in game two with the Hornets starting off with  a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a quick and early 2-0 lead.
• UMES responded immediately with two runs of its own on three hits. Holt led off the game with a single for the second time on the day before reaching third on a steal and a Hornet error. She would score when Mountain grounded out to second base. Ekstrom followed with a double to center and scored on the next batter when Ballenger singled up the middle, tying the game at 2-2.
• A scoreless second by both teams led to a six-run third by the Hornets. They would jump out to an 8-2 lead on four hits and three walks. Only one of the hits would be an extra-base hit.
• Not as powerful answer like the first inning, but UMES added a run to the board in the bottom of the inning when Mountain scored off a Ballenger groundout to short, cutting the lead down 8-3.
• Another Hawk run would score in the bottom of the fourth when Abiley scored, unearned of a Hodge single to center, bringing the core to 8-4.
• For the third-straight inning, UMES added a run to the board in the fifth. After Mountain and Ekstrom both singled, a double steal would see the duo at third and second, respectively. A deep sacrifice flyout to left by Ballenger allowed Mountain to score, getting the Hawks within three runs, 8-5. The Hornets got the run back in the top of the sixth with a lone run off a walk, 9-5.
• Two hits and two runs kept the Hawks in the game in the sixth with both Abiley and Katelyn Smitchko to score, cutting the lead down to 9-7.
• DSU allowed back-to-back hits to start the bottom of the seventh, but induced a pop up and two fly outs to end the game and escape with the split.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Ekstrom went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plated with a run scored in the game. Both Holt and Mountain went 2-for-4 while Ballenger went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. 

COMING UP

• The Hawks and Hornets will play the series finale on Sunday, April 28 with the winner likely securing the final spot in the 2024 MEAC Tournament. Game time with DSU is scheduled for 12 p.m.
• Prior to the game, Coach Robinson will honor three seniors for their dedication to the program over the past few years with a special recognition ceremony.