SUMMARY

The Navy Midshipmen narrowly edged out the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, 7-6, in eleven innings in Annapolis, giving the Hawks their third walk-off loss in the last four games.

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 6

Navy Midshipmen -  7

HOW IT HAPPENED

On a cool evening in Annapolis, the Hawks got off to a quick start. Ryan Howe continued his hot streak at the plate from the prior weekend by lacing a single to left field to drive in Ansel Carson. The Maroon and Grey then doubled their advantage in the first inning when Julian Jimenez stole home on a sequence where the Navy defense committed an error while trying to catch Howe stealing second base. Although UMES gave up a run in the bottom of the first, Maryland Eastern Shore responded in the top of the second inning with a Jonathan Gonzalez Perez RBI single that drove in Carson. At the middle of the second inning, the Hawks led the Midshipmen, 3-1.

Navy went on to score five consecutive runs in the second and third innings, putting Maryland Eastern Shore behind by three runs going into the fourth. The Hawks answered Navy's offensive onslaught by scoring a run in the fourth and fifth inning. In the fourth frame, Julian Jimenez scorched an RBI triple to left center field that drove in Elijah Negron and, in the fifth frame, Jason Brown drilled an RBI single to left field to drive in Ryan Davis. At the end of five innings, UMES lowered the deficit to just one run, 6-5.

Through the first five innings, it appeared the game would be a high scoring affair. However, there would only be one run scored from the sixth inning until the eleventh inning. UMES' bullpen found their stride with Tyler Prather, Robert Guerrero, and Jayden Dillard each providing strong outings that kept the Midshipmen offense at bay. The effort by the Hawk relief pitchers enabled the Hawk offense to have an opportunity to drive in the tying run in the eighth inning. With UMES down one, Carson ripped a single to left field. Negron got an amazing jump off the first base bag and went from first to home on Carson's base hit to tie the game.

In the ninth inning, Navy brought in their closing pitcher, Landon Kruer, who holds the record for the most strikeouts in Patriot League history. Kruer did not allow a single run and just one hit in his three innings of work, shutting the Hawks down at the plate. Jayden Dillard went toe-to-toe with Kruer, pitching three shutout innings of his own, including striking out the side in the tenth inning. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Navy eventually broke through in the bottom of the eleventh, scoring the walk-off run to clinch a victory, 7-6.

THE NUMBERS

The Hawks finished with six runs on 12 hits and no errors while the Midshipmen finished with seven runs on 10 hits and no errors.

Ryan Davis finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Davis has recorded multi-hit games in two of his last four games.

Ryan Howe finished 2-for-6 at the plate. Howe now has nine hits in his last 20 plate appearances.

Julian Jimenez finished 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI triple. Jimenez now leads the Hawks in triples and has registered multi-hit games in six of his last eight contests.

Despite being tagged with the loss, Jayden Dillard recorded his fourth relief appearance of three or more innings this season. Dillard also recorded five strikeouts which is just one shy of his season-high.

Robert Guerrero recorded his best outing of the season, pitching two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.

UP NEXT

With this loss, the Hawks fall to 4-22 on the season. UMES will look to end their six-game losing streak on Friday against Coppin State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover, Maryland.

FOLLOW ALONG

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