SUMMARY
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team defeated North Carolina Central in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. UMES won Game 1, 9-5, and won Game 2, 8-3. .

Clarke Calvin and Skylar Skinner homered each in the twinbill with Paris Richards and Dani Brown tossing complete games. 

THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (11–30, 3–13 MEAC) — 9
North Carolina Central Eagles (7–34, 8–7 MEAC) — 5

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (12–30, 5–11 MEAC) — 8
North Carolina Central Eagles (7–35, 5–12 MEAC) — 3

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
North Carolina Central scored three runs in the first inning off four hits and one error. UMES did not respond immediately but exploded for six runs in the second inning to take control.

Lola Meyer led off with a single to center field. Makalah Clark pinch-ran for Meyer, stole second and later scored on an error by the Eagles' shortstop to cut the Hawks' deficit to 3–1.

With no outs, Araceli Manzo worked a walk and Emily Gunther doubled to left-center to plate Manzo and make it 3–2. Paris Richards singled, moving Gunther to third. Jada Lacey singled, advancing Richards to second and scoring Gunther to tie the game at 3–3.

Clarke Calvin approached the plate with runners on first and second and hit a home run to left-center to break the game open at 6–3. Kinsey Mentzer singled before North Carolina Central changed pitchers, but UMES hit into a double play to end the inning.

UMES added one run in the third inning. With two outs, Emily Gunther reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a passed ball. Paris Richards singled up the middle to plate Gunther and extend the lead to 7–3.

The Hawks added two more runs in the fourth inning. Araceli Manzo and Emily Gunther singled, advancing on a passed ball. Paris Richards singled to center field to plate Manzo with Gunther advancing to third. Richards stole second and Jada Lacey drew a walk before Clarke Calvin hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Gunther and make it 9–3. The inning ended with Kinsey Mentzer reaching on a fielder's choice and Richards out on a force play.

UMES' offensive production ended in the fifth inning as North Carolina Central added two runs between the sixth and seventh innings to cut the final margin.

Paris Richards pitched a complete game, striking out three.

GAME TWO
North Carolina Central scored one run in the first inning, but UMES responded with three runs to take early control.

Jada Lacey reached on a hit by pitch and Skylar Skinner tripled to right-center, plating Lacey. Lola Meyer reached on a hit by pitch and in a double steal, Skinner slipped past the Eagles' defense while Meyer swiped second. Emily Gunther hit an RBI single to score Meyer, and Paris Richards singled to center field before a strikeout ended the inning with the Hawks leading 3–1.

UMES kept the momentum with two more runs in the second inning. Lacey doubled to left-center and Skinner homered to left-center to push the Hawks' lead to 5–1.

After a scoreless third inning from both teams, UMES extended its advantage with two runs in the fourth. Clarke Calvin singled up the middle and Kinsey Mentzer reached on a bunt single with Calvin advancing to third. Mentzer stole third and Skylar Skinner was hit by pitch to load the bases. Lola Meyer reached on a fielder's choice with everyone advancing except Calvin, who was thrown out at home. Araceli Manzo singled to plate Skinner and Mentzer and extend the lead to 7–1.

North Carolina Central added one run in the fifth inning, but UMES responded with one more run when Skylar Skinner was hit by pitch with the bases loaded to make it 8–2.

In the seventh, Dani Brown gave up a triple but responded with a strikeout, popup and flyout to close the game at 8–3.

Dani Brown earned the win, tossing a complete game and striking out two batters.

BY THE NUMBERS
Paris Richards recorded two RBIs in Game 1, marking the second multi-hit game of her season. Her three hits is the first time in her career she has recorded three hits in a game.

Emily Gunther's two hits mark her fifth multi-hit game of the season. Araceli Manzo's multi-hit game pushes her season total to seven.

Clarke Calvin's four RBIs is a career-high for RBIs in a game.

Paris Richards' complete game is her third of the season.

Skylar Skinner's three hits and four RBIs mark the second time this season she has recorded multiple hits and RBIs in a game.

Araceli Manzo's two RBIs in Game 2 is her fifth game this season with multiple RBIs.

Dani Brown pitched her fourth complete game of the season.

Saturday's two wins against MEAC opponent North Carolina Central mark the Hawks' first conference series win since Delaware State in 2024.

NEXT UP
UMES softball will continue its series with NC Central on Sunday, April 19 at 12 p.m. A live stream for Sunday's matchup will be available on YouTube at UMES Hawks Athletics.