On a day meant to celebrate its veterans, Maryland Eastern Shore nearly capped Senior Day with a win. The Hawks surged ahead with a three-run fifth and brought the tying run to third in the seventh, but a late rally by South Carolina State proved the difference in a hard-fought 4-5 loss on Saturday afternoon.
The Score
South Carolina State (13-18, MEAC 9-9) - 5
Maryland Eastern Shore (5-34, MEAC 2-15) - 4
How it HappenedÂ
Despite a late push and a solid outing from the bullpen, UMES came up just short in a 5-4 loss on Senior Day, Saturday afternoon. UMES erased a one-run deficit with a three-run fifth inning and nearly battled all the way back again in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally stalled with the tying run 60 feet away.
Down 1-0 after three innings, the Hawks broke through in the fifth when freshman Lola Meyer singled and advanced to second on an error. With two away, junior Jaycee Holt ripped an RBI double to center to tie the game. After a strikeout, freshman Clarke Calvin delivered a two-run single through the right side to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
South Carolina State responded with a four-run top of the seventh, capitalizing on a pair of errors and a timely double to retake the lead, 5-3.
UMES didn't go quietly.
In the bottom of the seventh, junior DeNae Ojeda worked a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Holt came through again with a single up the middle to cut the deficit to one. She advanced to third on a fly out, but a deep ball to left ended the comeback effort.
Offensively, freshman Araceli Manzo led the Hawks with a 3-for-3 day, all on singles to the outfield. Holt finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double, while Calvin added two more RBIs in the fifth. Freshman Kassidy Oneail kept South Carolina State in check through six innings, while Paris Richards recorded the final two outs of the seventh without allowing a run.
By The Numbers
- Jaycee Holt extended her hitting streak to five games and has scored a run in each of the last five contests.
- Clarke Calvin also extended her hitting streak to five games, finishing the series against South Carolina State with four hits and four RBIs.
- Araceli Manzo closed the series with six hits and two RBIs — the six hits marking a series high for the freshman.
Quotes from Head Coach Aaron Robinson
Thoughts on strong showing from the HawksÂ
"First time in a while being in control of three back-to-back games for 75–80% of the time. Definitely a new feeling for us as a program and for all the new players. We've been talking about getting to seven innings, finishing strong — that's been our goal. We've been very consistent over the last month and a half getting there, and we really held control for most of these games.
Scoring six runs in the first game, being up 3–1, 2–1 — three close games in a row. First one was 3–2, and we just have to learn how to close it out. We've got to believe we can. We've got five games left to show ourselves we can finish and head in the right direction moving forward."
Team defense and how the team's played with more purpose lately
"Yeah, we definitely played great defense all three games. I wouldn't even call them mental errors anymore — more like pressure-filled reactions to specific situations. The team is really trying to own their experience.
Sometimes we're pushing to make that game-ending play or get that next out, and it takes us out of our comfort zone — which is good in the long run, but it can cause a little chaos if everyone isn't on the same page. That's just part of the learning curve and the growth that comes with being in control of games."
Takeaways from the moments when UMES was one out away
"It's about consistency. We need to play the same way the entire game. If we're closing out on defense, we've got to close out on defense. If we're adjusting on offense, that adjustment needs to happen throughout the whole game.
We can't be so focused on leaving our mark that we stop making the pitcher work or let the game dictate us. It's about being proactive, not reactive — swinging at pitches we're comfortable with. Consistency means different things in different situations, but overall, it's just about being yourself and being comfortable with that.
We're trying to figure out our true identity as a program before this season ends so we know exactly how we want to show up next year."
The team's mindset heading into the tail end of the season
"I think the reality is, the postseason probably isn't happening, right? So I'm really emphasizing the same thing I did with Lincoln and Maryland: there's nothing to lose. Go out, leave it all out there, and make sure you don't have any regrets. We need rest. Tomorrow, I want everyone with family, enjoying a day off. Then we'll come back Monday ready to see the ball, and we'll be ready for Hampton and Delaware State.
I told them we're hard to scout — one game we put up six or eight runs, another game we win 1–0, or we close people out on defense. You never know what version of us you're going to get, and that's a good thing — but we have to know who we are. We can't be just as confused as the other team.
Everyone has a role, and it's important we each do our part so that we can have the collective success we want. We're really starting to understand and buy into that, and hopefully we can take that into the offseason and keep building."
Next Up
UMES will rest up before welcoming Hampton University to the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex on Tuesday, April 22, for the final home doubleheader of the season. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.Â
Stay updated with UMES softball at UMESHawkSports.com and follow along on Twitter (
@UMEShawksSB) and Instagram (
@umeshawkssb).
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