SUMMARY  
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team dropped both games of its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader to Coppin State on Friday afternoon, falling 12–3 in Game 1 and 15–9 in extra innings in Game 2.

Gabriella Beltran led the Hawks offensively with two home runs on the day. She opened her scoring with a two-run shot to left-center field in Game 1 before delivering a three-run home run in Game 2 to tie the game at 5–5 in the third inning.

THE SCORE 
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (9–25, 1–9 MEAC) — 3
Coppin State  (3-17, 2-8 MEAC) — 12

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (9–26, 1–10 MEAC) — 9
Coppin State  (4-17, 3-8 MEAC) — 15

HOW IT HAPPENED 
GAME ONE
To open the Hawks' fourth MEAC series, UMES matched Coppin State's two-run first inning with two runs of its own. Skylar Skinner led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Jada Lacey moved her to third with a flyout. Gabriella Beltran then drove Skinner home with a two-run home run to left-center field to tie the game at 2–2.

UMES struggled to generate offensive momentum over the next three innings, recording just one hit and leaving three runners on base before adding its final run in the fifth. Lacey led off the inning with a double to center field and later scored on a wild pitch for the Hawks' lone run of the later frames.

Coppin State continued to build its lead throughout the game, pulling away to secure a 12–3 victory in Game 1.

GAME TWO
UMES responded in Game 2 by holding Coppin State scoreless in the first inning. Kinsey Mentzer threw out the leadoff runner, and the Hawks' defense followed with a flyout and an unassisted putout to end the frame.

The Hawks struck first in the bottom half of the inning. Skylar Skinner worked a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, while Emily Gunther also drew a walk. Skinner stole third and later scored on a wild pitch as Gunther moved to third and then stole second. With two outs, Lola Meyer tripled to left-center field to score Gunther and give UMES an early 2–0 lead.

Coppin State answered with five runs over the next two innings to take a 5–2 advantage, but UMES responded in the third. Skinner walked to start the inning and Jada Lacey reached on a fielder's choice before stealing second. Gunther singled to center field and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Gabriella Beltran delivered a three-run home run to left-center field to tie the game at 5–5, and the Hawks left two runners on base to end the inning.

UMES kept the Eagles off the board in the fourth and added two runs to take a 7–5 lead. Makalah Clark reached on a dropped third strike before Skinner doubled to left field to score Clark. Lacey followed with a single and both runners advanced on a double steal before Gunther drove in Skinner with an RBI single to extend the lead.

Both teams were scoreless in the fifth before Coppin State regained the lead in the sixth with three runs to move ahead 8–7. UMES answered in the bottom half as Skinner walked and Lacey singled, setting up an RBI single from Gunther to tie the game at 8–8. The Hawks loaded the bases but were unable to push across another run.

A scoreless seventh inning forced extra innings, where Coppin State capitalized on the international tiebreaker rule with seven runs in the eighth. UMES added one final run on an RBI double from Meyer that scored Gunther, but the rally fell short as the Hawks dropped Game 2, 15–9.

BY THE NUMBERS
Friday marked the third extra-inning game between UMES and Coppin State in the all-time series.

Gabriella Beltran hit two home runs on the day, bringing her season total to three and recording five RBI to increase her season total to 13.

Emily Gunther's three-hit performance marked her fourth multi-hit game of the season.

Skylar Skinner recorded a season-high three walks in Game 2.

Lola Meyer's double in Game 2 increased her season total to seven.

Ryleigh Lilly made her fifth pitching appearance of the season in Game 2, tossing three innings with two strikeouts.

NEXT UP 
UMES and Coppin State will conclude the three-game series on Saturday, April 4, with first pitch scheduled for noon.