GAME 1

The Short Story:  Returning home after two weeks on the road, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team looked comfortable as ever as the Hawks secure the 6-2 win over Norfolk State in game one of their three-game MEAC series.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 6, Norfolk State 2
Location: Salisbury, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It did not take long for the Hawks to get on the board as UMES plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Morea Hodge led off with a bunt single right in front of the plate before Nola Mountain sacrificed bunted her over to second. After Kelsie Ekstrom walked and stole second as Hodge stole third, a Spartan throwing error allowed Ameenah Ballenger to reach first, scoring Hodge and Ekstrom, putting the Hawks up 2-0.
• In the bottom of the third with two outs and Ekstrom on second, Ryan Merriwether doubled to deep left center that scored Ekstrom, adding another run to the Hawk's lead. 
• The Spartans cut into the lead with a run in the top of the fifth, but UMES answered immediately. The Hawks used three singles and a walk in the bottom of the frame to plate two more runs for the 5-1 lead. 
• Naveah Terrell reached on another NSU error in the bottom of the sixth with one out before stealing second. Hodge followed with a single through the left side that scored Terrell extending the lead to 6-1 after six.
• Down to their final three outs, the Spartans managed to score one run in the top of the seventh before UMES closed out the game with the 6-2 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Three different Hawks had multiple hits. Hodge, Mountain, and Merriwether each had two while Ballenger, McKenzie Abiley, Ava Fleming, and Terrell each had one of the 10 home team hits.
• Hodge the the Hawks going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk.
• UMES finished the game with six stolen bases comprised of Terrell (2) and Hodge, Ekstrom, Merriwether, and Abiley each having one.
• Ballenger pitched a complete complete game with six strikeouts and only four walks, picking up her fourth win of the season.

GAME 2

The Short Story:  The Hawks were unable to complete the doubleheader sweep on Saturday as NSU claimed game two with a 9-4 win   

THE GAME FACTS
Score: Norfolk State 9, UMES 4
Location: Salisbury, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• NSU scored two runs in the top of the first before the Hawks answered in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Ballenger singled to left center, scoring Mountain from second to cut the NSU lead in half, 2-1.
• A scoreless third led NSU to scoring three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 9-2 lead.
• A passed ball with bases loaded in the sixth and a deep single to right center in the seventh each scored a run but the Hawks were not able to add more as the Spartans got the doubleheader split with a 9-4 win in game two.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Ballenger went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a run score and an RBI along with her stolen base. 
• Katelyn Smitchko took the loss pitching the first four innings allowing six runs while striking out one.

GAME 3

The Short Story:  In an important game in the MEAC standings, UMES and Norfolk State played the finale of the conference series. Looking to get their first series win of the season, the Hawks only needed one inning of scoring along with their stingy defense to get the 5-3 win over the Spartans.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 5, Norfolk State 3
Location: Salisbury, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team could plate a run in the first two innings before NSU got a home run to lead off the third to take a quick 1-0 lead. 
• It did not last long as UMES would plate all five runs they scored in the bottom of the frame. Terrell led of by being hit by a pitch, followed by a single to left by Hodge. On the play the left fielder mis-played the ball off the ground as it rolled to the fence allowing Terrell to score and Hodge to reach second.
• Mountain collected the second straight single by the Hawks which saw Hodge to score, giving UMES the 2-1 lead. With one out and Mountain on third, Ekstrom hit a single up the middle scoring Mountain, adding to the UMES total. 
• Back-to-back doubles by Ballenger and Merriwether would score both Ekstrom and Ballenger, putting the Hawks ahead 5-1 after three.
• Single runs by the Spartans in both the fifth and seventh would not be enough to overcome the Hawks' third inning as UMES took game three 5-3 and the series 2-1.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Hawks finished with 11 hits, led by Ekstrom's 3-for-4 performance. Jaycee Holt and Mountain also had a multi-hit game with two each. 
• Lehman earned the win pitching the first six innings with four strikeouts and just one walk. Ballenger picked up her second save of the season pitching the seventh.

UP NEXT

• The Hawks are home again next weekend when they welcome North Carolina Central to the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex for a three-game MEAC series. Game one with the Eagles is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.