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March 26, 2005 NORFOLK, VA - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore hosted Norfolk Sate University at the Spartans home field as rain showers forced the weekend series to be moved from Princess Anne, Maryland to Norfolk, Virginia. UMES dropped the first game 5-3, behind four first inning runs and fell in extra innings in the second game 8-5. In the first game, Norfolk State (5-22, 3-5) took advantage of a slow start by UMES (3-19, 1-7) as they scored four runs on only one hit in the top of the first. Fighting Hawk starter, Ken Richardson (0-4) walked four and had two wild pitches that allowed the Spartans to take the early lead, though only two of the runs were earned. However, he settled down as he retired 20 of the next 22 batters he faced before Juan Serrano earned his and the teams third hit of the game. Richardson's dominating performance allowed the Fighting Hawks to chip away at the Norfolk lead as in the bottom of the second, Bernie Stratchko's RBI-single scored Justin Hoban to get the maroon and grey started. In the sixth inning, UMES added another run as they put together three hits to go with a costly error, but left runners stranded at second and third. In the bottom of the eighth, UMES added another run on three hits, but ran themselves out of the inning as on a RBI-single by Eric Gaines, Stratchko was cut down for the third out at third base trying to advance on the throw home. In the ninth, Dusty Webster replaced Richardson and allowed a two-out single that scored an insurance run for Norfolk State which proved to be the difference as the Fighting Hawks had the tying run on base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Rob Benak led the inning off with a walk on four straight pitches as starting pitcher De'Mece Williams looked for the complete game, but was well over 120 pitches. Benak then stole second before Joel Maher walked to put the tying run on base. Ronald Quick then sacrificed the runners into scoring position where they were left stranded.
In the second game, UMES jumped out of the gate strong as with two-outs Craig Munch, Stratchko and Hoban comined to nail Serrao at home before taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on a Munch RBI-single that scored Maher. In the third inning, Norfolk State tied the game at 1-1 on back-to-back two-out singles by Ryan Reddick and Serrano. In the bottom of the fourth the Fighting Hawks regained the advantage with a 360-foot shot over the left-field wall by Benak. The two-run homerun was his first of the season and gave UMES starter Sean Davis a 3-1 lead. However, the Spartans responded with a run in the fifth as they hit their third double of the game over the third-base bag. With two runners on and two-outs, Davis could not hold the lead as once again NSU ripped a pitch over the bag at third-base scoring two. The next batter then singled home the teams fourth run of the inning knocking Davis out of the game. Davis pitched four and two-thirds solid innings giving up only one run on six hits. However, after he got the second out in the fifth inning, Davis gave up four more runs on three hits and a walk. Once again, Dusty Webster came in to try and hold the game close and struck out the only batter he faced in the inning. Trailing 5-3, UMES got three straight singles by McCabe, Munch and Hoban to load the bases with one out. However, an attempted sacrifice fly play turned into an inning-ending double-play for Norfolk State as McCabe was thrown out by a good amount and tried to retreat but eventually was tagged out. In the sixth inning, NSU loaded the bases after the first to batters got out as two single were wrapped around a walk. Daniel Sterling replaced Webster and helped the Fighting Hawks escape as he retired Serrano for the first time in the second game. UMES cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth as Maher singled in Gaines. With two outs and the tying and winning runs in scoring position, McCabe ripped a single right at the right-fielder who came up throwing and threw a perfect strike to the catcher just in time to get a speedy Maher from scoring the go-ahead run. Neither team could score in the final inning, in the eighth Norfolk State put together four straight hits to grab the 8-5 advantage. UMES and Norfolk State will conclude the weekend series on Sunday with a nine-inning game starting at noon at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field in Norfolk, Virginia. |
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