GAME 1:
SUMMARY
Despite the Hawks taking an early lead, the VMI Keydets downed the UMES Hawks 14-4 at Gray-Minor Stadium to open the season.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 4
Virginia Military Institute Keydets - 14
(VMI leads series 1-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Although VMI sprung to a quick two-run lead, UMES answered in a big way in the second inning. The Hawks began a two-out rally with a solo home run to left field by Ryan Davis, cutting the deficit in half and igniting the UMES dugout with cheers. The Hawks carried their momentum into the next 4 plate appearances, starting with Eli Negron reaching on a walk followed by Ansel Carson reaching on an error by the VMI third baseman. With two aboard, Julian Jimenez laced a double to right field to drive in both Negron and Carson, giving the Hawks their first lead of the game. During the following at bat, Jonathan Gonzalez Perez continued the clutch hitting by slicing an RBI single to right field, bringing in Jimenez for a grand total of four runs scored in the top of the second inning.
UMES held on to their advantage until the bottom of the fourth when VMI usurped momentum back behind a trio of bases loaded walks drawn by the patience of the VMI bats. After scoring five runs in the 4th inning, the Keydets pitching staff constricted the efficiency of the UMES bats, yielding just three hits throughout the rest of the game. The team hailing from Lexington, Virginia added some insurance runs in the 6th and 7th innings to secure the run rule victory, 14-4.
THE NUMBERS
The Hawks totaled 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 errors while the Keydets had 14 runs on 11 hits and 2 errors.
Ryan Davis recorded his 1st home run of the season. This marks his 3rd career home run. It also occurred at a place where his father, Sylvester, used to compete at since he ran track at Virginia Military Institute.
Ansel Carson was active on the base paths, stealing 3 bases in the first two innings of the game.
The Hawks struggled to find the strike zone at times, yielding 10 walks
Freshman right-handed pitcher Carter Champey made his first start, striking out five batters in 3.2 innings of work.
Jonathan Gonzalez Perez recorded his first multi-hit game of the season
GAME 2:
SUMMARY
The Keydets offense continued to roll en route to a win over the Hawks, 11-2, in the second game of the doubleheader.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 2
Virginia Military Institute Keydets- 11
(VMI leads series 2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
On a chilly, late afternoon, VMI's strong starting pitching limited Maryland Eastern Shore to just two hits in the opening three frames. On the contrary, the Keydets offense picked up from where they left off in game one, scoring double-digit runs for the second consecutive game.
Despite the tough outing, the Hawks had a trio of positive sequences. First, in the away half of the fourth inning, Ryan Davis continued his strong afternoon by driving in Diego Aponte, who reached base earlier on a line drive double, on a blooped single to left center field. Second, Jonathan Gonzalez Perez stayed hot at the plate with an RBI single to right field that scored Elijah Negron in the fifth inning. Lastly, to end the sixth inning, the Hawks perfectly handled the crafty base running of VMI to turn a double play on a tag out of a runner between 3rd and home and a tag out of a runner racing to second base.
THE NUMBERS
The Hawks scored 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 errors while the Keydets scored 11 runs on 9 hits and 1 error.
Despite the loss, the Hawks only were outhit by two hits.
The Hawks once again struggled to find the strike zone, walking 10 batters.
Jonathan Gonzalez Perez registered back-to-back multi-hit games
Catcher Bronson Taylor was on target with his throws, catching two VMI Keydets (a team that was among the NCAA leaders in stolen bases in 2024) stealing.
Ryan Davis picked up from where he left off in game one, registering his first multi-hit game since March 16, 2024 in a game against Norfolk State.
UP NEXT
With this loss, the Hawks start the season two games in the hole. Due to impending bad weather in Lexington, Virginia, Maryland Eastern Shore will take on Virginia Military Institute at an early 9:00 AM first pitch for a chance to earn their first win of both the series and the season.
FOLLOW ALONG
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