NORFOLK, Va. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore closed out its weekend road series with authority, using a five-run third inning and late-game insurance to power past Norfolk State, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon at NSU Softball Field.

The Score
Norfolk State (15-16, MEAC 8-4) - 5
Maryland Eastern Shore (3-28, MEAC 2-10) - 8

How it Happened 
A five-run third inning and timely late-game insurance powered the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to an 8-5 win on Sunday afternoon, closing out the weekend series with a victory at NSU Softball Field.

The Hawks jumped ahead early and never trailed, responding to every push with steady offense and aggressive base running.

UMES threatened right out of the gate as junior Jaycee Holt opened the game with a triple through the left side. The Hawks loaded the bases later in the inning but came up empty after a pair of infield pop-ups. Still, the tone was set.

In the third, the floodgates opened. Senior Nola Mountain reached on an error and stole second before Holt dropped a single to left. With two runners on, the Hawks capitalized on a series of defensive miscues and clutch hitting. Juniors DeNae Ojeda and Paige Perkins each reached on errors that plated two unearned runs. Junior Ella Falcetti followed with a sharp single to left for an RBI, and senior McKenzie Abiley and junior Emily Gunther added back-to-back hits to keep the momentum rolling. Another defensive miscue brought in a fifth run, capping the inning and giving UMES a 5-1 lead.

Abiley wasn't done—she added a solo home run in the fifth, her second of the season, to push the lead to 6-1. She finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Hawks plated two more in the seventh after Falcetti and Abiley opened the frame with singles. Freshman Araceli Manzo delivered the knockout blow, lacing a two-run double through the left side for her first RBI since Feb. 23.

In the circle, freshman Kassidy Oneail pitched a complete game to secure the win, striking out one and scattering eight hits and four earned runs.

By the Numbers 

• McKenzie Abiley turned in her best performance of the season on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. The outing marked season highs in hits (3), runs (2), RBIs (2), and putouts (3), while also setting a new career high for hits in a single game. Her solo shot in the fifth was her second of the season, establishing a new career best in home runs.
• Araceli Manzo added a spark, recording her first double of the season in the seventh inning.
• UMES erupted for five runs in the third inning—their highest-scoring frame since a five-run fourth against Alabama A&M on Feb. 15.
• In the circle, Kassidy Oneail delivered her third complete game of the year, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, four walks, and striking out one.
• DeNae Ojeda was active on the base paths, swiping a season-high three bags.
• Ella Falcetti notched her fourth multi-hit game of the season, while Emily Gunther collected her fourth hit of the year with a single in the third.
• The win marks UMES' second in conference play.

Quotes from Head Coach Aaron Robinson
Assessment on today's win 
Today's win was a result of building up runs, getting their bats going, playing shut-down defense, and being on the same page. We were able to give myself a large cushion and focus on each out, each inning, as its own entity. We didn't dwell on the past but kept working toward our goal for the end of the game. We played a complete game. Coming off a tough tournament, with the run rule in the second game of day one and losing to a walk-off hit after controlling most of game one until the bottom of the seventh, it was important to get over the hump we've been talking about for the last few weeks. We finally got over it in game three, something we weren't able to do in game one."

Pitching rotation in this weekend's series
Kassie [Kassidy Oneail} is the arm we're going to rely on for more innings, and she'll need to throw in all three games. So, in an effort to maximize her availability, we have to be strategic about how many innings she throws in games one and two. She's been dealing with some soreness and pain at different points, and coming from the fall, where she was injured and not throwing many innings, we're focused on ensuring she can continue to throw at a high frequency. We've mixed up the rotation with Kassidy, Paris, and Emily in other series, and had success, but we also need to make sure we're not wearing anyone out. The goal is to keep everyone healthy and available, making sure we're putting our best foot forward while thinking long-term. It's important that we continue to use all three pitchers without overloading any one of them."

Strategic Adjustments: Balancing Experience and Performance in the Lineup
"The decision I made regarding the starting lineup was to ensure everyone gets the experience they need. We didn't use a DP flex role, which we've used in other games, and this is a key point in game three of every series where everyone needs the opportunity to step up and be accountable for their impact on the game. Clark has been playing great defense, but she's also had some errors, so we needed to make some adjustments. We moved McKenzie to shortstop, where she's been playing third recently, and moved Paige to third base—she's played catcher in the first two games and in previous series. We just needed to turn things around, and I'm willing to move players up and down the lineup, in and out of the lineup, to make sure we're mixing things up and finding those consistent nine players who can get it done and help us find success."

Mckenzie Abiley's impact for the Hawks 
"McKenzie is extremely experienced, has a high IQ, and is very academically sharp. She understands the game very well, and she's been trying to find the best way to support and lead this team as a senior. This year, with a younger roster, she's had to adjust from being a role player who could just focus on doing her job to stepping up as a leader. I've been encouraging her to just be herself—play relaxed, be confident, and communicate. Everything will fall into place. As she works through this, she's trying to make the most of her last season and give herself some grace, understanding that not everything falls on her shoulders. We don't need her to carry everything, but rather to lead through her experience and by teaching others. Now that she's found calm in that role, she's able to perform her best on both sides of the ball, which showed in yesterday's game."

Building Confidence and Pressure: A Focus on Base Running and Growth
"When I asked DeNae after the game, she said she was feeling good. I was with her at first base and coach Higgins was on third. My intention with the question was to focus on our base running. Throughout the season, the team has been able to hear instructions as soon as they get to first base, rather than waiting for cues from me at third. DeNae didn't just have stolen bases; throughout the game, many players were putting pressure on the defense by focusing on the next base and not letting anything stop them from getting there. Once DeNae had one stolen base, she was ready to go for the next. After two, she was already thinking about the third. This mindset not only opened up her defensive game but also her offensive game. She was able to put the ball in play and trust herself, knowing she could do it because she was succeeding in multiple areas. That's what I want for all our players—to take each experience and let it build onto the next. If you miss an opportunity, it's okay. Learn from it, move on, and know that you'll be ready for the next situation."
Next Up
UMES will head to Cary, North Carolina, for a three-game series against North Carolina Central beginning Saturday, April 12, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Stay updated with UMES softball at UMESHawkSports.com and follow along on Twitter (@UMEShawksSB) and Instagram (@umeshawkssb).