GAME 1

The Short Story:  The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team hit the road for its regular season finale on Wednesday when it visited Mount St. Mary's for a non-conference doubleheader. The Hawks continued their momentum from Sunday with a 5-2 win in game one.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 5, MSM 2
Location: Emittsburg, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mount got on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame off a Hawk error to take a 1-0 lead.
• UMES answered immediately in the top of the second with McKenzie Abiley scoring from third after reaching on a single and stealing second. Nevaeh Terrell would hit a double to left center two batter later that pushed Abiley across home plate for the run scored.
• It was in the top of the fourth that the Hawks would score what became the game winning run. Abiley led off the inning with another single before stealing second. Paige Perkins followed with a walk. Morea Hodge started a string of three-straight singles to load the bases. Terrell was next up with her hit to center that scored Abiley for the second time. Jaycee Holt was the third single in a row that scored both Perkins and Hodge, giving the Hawks the 4-1 lead.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, used a walk before getting a double to cut the UMES lead down to just two, 4-2.
• The Hawks used another three-hits in a row to start off the top of the seventh with Mountain, Kelsie Ekstrom and Ameenah Ballenger all recording hits in the inning. Ballenger's hit to center allowed Mountain to score an insurance run for the Hawks, 5-2

BY THE NUMBERS

• Both Abiley and Terrell each had a multi-hit game. Terrell went 2-for-3 with two RBISs while Abiley went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Seven different Hawks recorded a hit against the Mount.
• Kylee Lehman threw the first four innings for UMES with five strikeouts and not allowing an earned run to pick up her fifth win of the season. 
• Ballenger closed out the final three innings in the circle with three strikeouts.
• The win was the first in the series dating back to 2008.

GAME 2

The Short Story:  The Mount scored in all but the second inning en route to a 10-2 win over the Hawks in game two of the non-conference doubleheader.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: MSM 10, UMES 2
Location: Emittsburg, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• On a sunny, hot afternoon, the Mount of Mount St. Mary's took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run home run.
• Holding UMES scoreless until the fifth, MSM scored four more runs combined in the third and fourth to give themselves a 6-0 advantage. 
• Terrell led off the fifth by being hit by a pitch before stealing second. Holt followed with a single to first that allowed Terrell to reach third. Holt would steal second while Mountain was at bat before Mountain dropped a single to the catcher to load the bases with no outs. A hard hit ball later to the pitcher from Hodge, scored Terrell from third. Ballenger next grounded out to the shortstop but it allowed Holt to score to cut the lead down to 6-2.
• The Mount answered immediately with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame before getting a walk off single in the bottom of the sixth that pushed the lead up to eight runs for the 10-2 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Mountain went 3-for-3 int he game with both Holt and Ava Fleming going 2-for-3.

COMING UP

• The Hawks now turn their attention to the 2024 MEAC Tournament May 8-11. No. 6 UMES will take on No. 3 Coppin State on Wednesday, May 8 at 12 p.m. 
• The tournament is taking place on the campus of Norfolk State in Virginia.