SUMMARY 

COVINGTON, Ga. - UMES couldn't overcome Hampton's offensive explosion in the middle innings, falling 11-6 Friday at the Leonard Moody HBCU Collegiate Invitational in Covington, Ga.

The Hawks scored early and mounted a late rally in the seventh inning but came up short against the Pirates.

THE SCORE 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (0–1, 0–0 MEAC) — 6 
Hampton (1–1, 0–0 CAA) — 11 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (0–2, 0–0 MEAC) — 1
Alcorn State (3-3, 0-0 SWAC)  — 13

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Hawks struck first, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Skylar Skinner singled to center field and advanced on a passed ball before Araceli Manzo drove her in with a single to left, giving UMES an early 1–0 lead.

Hampton answered in the bottom half, scoring two runs with the help of passed balls and a hit batter to take a 2–1 advantage.

UMES responded in the second with three runs to reclaim the lead at 4–2. Emily Gunther drew a leadoff walk, and Chloe Weber doubled to center to put runners in scoring position. A Hampton error allowed Gunther to score, and after Kinsey Mentzer singled and advanced on another error, both Weber and Clark crossed the plate before Mentz was thrown out at home.

The Hawks were held scoreless over the next four innings while Hampton broke the game open with seven runs in the third.

UMES made one final push in the seventh. Paige Perkins and Skinner each reached on errors, and a double steal moved Perkins to third and Skinner to second. Ryleigh Lilly lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Perkins, and Manzo followed with a double down the right-field line to bring home Skinner. The rally ended when Meyer singled and Manzo was thrown out at the plate, closing the Hawks' season opener.

UMES vs. Alcorn State

In the second game of the day at the HBCU Invitational, Alcorn State defeated UMES 13–1 in five innings.

The Hawks' lone run came in the fourth inning when Ryleigh Lilly advanced on a passed ball to score.

Jada Lacey and Emily Gunther recorded UMES' only hits, with Lacey's single coming in the first inning and Gunther's in the fourth.

Paris Richards, Dani Brown and Chloe Weber all saw time in the circle. Richards pitched 2.1 innings, while Brown and Weber threw 1.2 and 1.0 innings, respectively.

 
BY THE NUMBERS 

Araceli Manzo, Chloe Weber and Makalah Clark each doubled in UMES' loss to Hampton on Friday at the HBCU Invitational.

Manzo and Skylar Skinner led UMES' offensive effort with a combined five hits. Manzo finished with two RBI while Skinner scored two runs for the Hawks.

Skinner paced the Hawks with two stolen bases.

On the mound, Weber, Dani Brown and Paris Richards combined to strike out four batters while facing 36.

NEXT UP 

UMES will compete against Alcron State in the final game of day one at the HBCU Invitational in Covington, Ga., at 2:30 p.m.