GAME 1

SUMMARY

Even though the Hawks raced to an early five-run lead, the Mercyhurst Lakers scored four combined runs in the final two innings to rally past the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, 7-6. 

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 6

Mercyhurst Lakers- 7

(Lakers win series 2-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After falling victim to a Mercyhurst walk-off home run in the prior game, the visiting Hawks wasted no time getting the offense rolling. Ryan Howe began one of his best days at the plate of his career with a two-RBI single that drove in Julian Jimenez and Ansel Carson. With the Hawks up 2-0, Ryan Davis drew a bases-loaded walk, Michael Blackiston drove in Howe on an RBI single, and Carson drew a bases loaded walk to give the Hawks a five-run advantage at the end of the opening inning. 

Unfortunately for the Maroon and Grey, the Hawks would only score one more throughout the game, allowing Mercyhurst time to diminish UMES' lead. First, the Lakers scored a run in the third inning to decrease the deficit to four runs. Maryland Eastern Shore increased the lead back to five runs when Jonathan Gonzalez laced a double to left field to drive in Carson. However, the hosting Lakers continued to chip into the lead despite the small setback by scoring goals in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to reduce the Hawk lead to just three runs. Penultimately, Mercyhurst rattled off a trio of runs in the eighth inning to tie the game, giving the Lakers an opportunity for their second walk-off win of the series. Mercyhurst went on to score the game winning run in the ninth to complete the five-run comeback win, 7-6.

THE NUMBERS

The Hawks finished with six runs on 11 hits and no errors while the Lakers recorded seven runs on 11 hits and no errors.

For the second consecutive game, the Hawks and Lakers recorded the same number of hits.

Ryan Howe went 4-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBI. Howe's four hits is not only a season-high but a career-high for the designated hitter.

Brandon Gomez recorded a season-high four innings pitched with two strikeouts.

GAME 2

SUMMARY

The Mercyhurst Lakers scored nine unanswered runs from the first through the seventh innings to cruise by the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, 10-4, 

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 4

Mercyhurst Lakers - 10

(Lakers sweep series 3-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Riding high on the momentum from back-to-back walk-off wins, Mercyhurst rattled off seven home runs in this game, including five in the first five frames of the game. Despite a rough overall game for the Hawks, a pair of freshmen recorded their first collegiate hits and RBI. In the 8th inning, Luka Gilliam singled to drive in Joshua Caldwell for his first base hit and RBI. In a similar fashion, Sebastian Davila hit an RBI single to center field in the ninth inning to drive in Eli Negron for his first career hit and RBI. Overall, aside from those two highlights, the fact that Hawks were not able to generate offense consistently nor limit the power from Mercyhurst led to a comfortable Lakers victory, 10-4.

THE NUMBERS

The Hawks finished with four runs on eight hits and two errors while the Lakers recorded 10 runs on 16 hits and no errors.

Sebastian Davila and Luka Gilliam each recorded their first collegiate RBI and base hit. 

Diego Aponte finished 2-for-3 at the plate to finish the series strong. Aponte has recorded nine multi-hit games this season.

TOP PERFORMERS OF THE SERIES

Ryan Howe: The graduate student designated hitter recorded his best series at the plate this season. Howe finished 7-for-13 at the plate. Howe's best game came in game two against the Lakers where Howe recorded a career-high four hits (4-for-5). Howe also added two RBI this weekend.

Jonathan Gonzalez Perez: Gonzalez bat 4-for-12 this weekend with three RBI and two doubles. In game one of the series against Mercyhurst, Gonzalez drove in the tying run in the ninth. The junior catcher / designated hitter leads the team with a .400 batting average this season.

Wilfredo Morales: Despite being tagged with the loss, Wilfredo Morales recorded a season-high 5.2 innings pitched on the mound with a season-high seven strikeouts in game one of the series against Mercyhurst. When Morales entered the game in the fifth inning, the Hawks trailed the Lakers by three. Morales kept the Hawks in the game and allowed UMES to force the game to extra innings. 

UP NEXT

With this loss, the Hawks slide to 4-21 (3-9) on the 2025 campaign. UMES will look for their fifth win of the season on Wednesday at 5 p.m. against Navy in Annapolis.

FOLLOW ALONG

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