Dover, Del. (Mar. 30, 2015) --- Maryland-Eastern Shore scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a come-from-behind 8-6 win over Delaware State to complete a MEAC North doubleheader and series sweep at Soldier Field today. The Hawks won the first game of the twin-bill 11-3. It's the first time that UMES has swept a three-game series from the Hornets since 1995.
The Hawks are now 9-16 overall and 7-2 in the MEAC. DSU fell to 6-15 and 5-4.
In the seven-inning nightcap, the Hornets led 6-1 before UMES clawed back. The Hawks scored four runs after two were out in the fifth inning to pull to within a run. Troy Anderson knocked in the first run of the inning on a two-out single. The second UMES run of the inning crossed the plate on an infield single by Conner Breslin. The third and fourth runs of the inning were the result of a bases loaded walk and a hit batter with the bases full.
The Hornets led 6-5 heading into the seventh inning. DSU reliever Garrett Coverdale retired the first two batters before UMES rallied. The third batter of the inning, Mike Escanilla, was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a stolen base and an error on the steal. Joshua James followed with a double off the left field fence to score Escanilla and tie the game at 6-6. Justin Datillo then singled to center to score James with the go-ahead run. The Hawks added an insurance run on a single by Greg Turlik.
The Hornets opened the scoring in game two when Charles Dailey tripled to lead off the first and scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by David Kimbrough.
Delaware State led 2-1 after the teams traded runs in the second inning.
The Hornets regained the lead with three runs in the third. Chris Gonzalez singled in the first run of the inning and Ron Farley blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence to stretch the DSU lead to 5-1. Farley is tied with Dailey for the team lead with five home runs.
Delaware State opened up a 6-1 when Gonzalez doubled in a run in the fourth.
Designed hitter Austin Bentley was three-for-three, while Dailey Gonzalez and Farley and Justin Allen had two hits each in the nightcap for the Hornets.
Reliever Toby Hoskins (1-2) pitched two shutout innings to earn the game two win for the Hawks. Devin Repine pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his second save of the series for the Hawks. Coverdale was tagged with the loss for the Hornets.
In the opener, Skylar Murray was two-for-four with four runs batted, while Datillo and Quenton Hamrick each homered to lead the Hawks' 15-hit attack.
UMES opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the first inning. Murray's two-run single was the big blow in the inning.
The Hornets got one back in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez.
The Hawks opened up a 6-1 lead on Hamrick's two-run homer in the second.
DSU scored a run in the fourth on a single by Allen, and pulled to within 6-3 on Dailey's fifth homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth.
Datillo hit a solo shot in the sixth to give the Hawks a 7-3 lead.
The Hawks blew the game open with four runs in the seventh, highlighted by Murray's two-run double.
Dailey, Kimbrough and Jaylen Zielecki had hits each in the opener for the Hornets.
Starter Dan Galati (1-3) took the game one loss for DSU. while Hawk starter Chipper Smith (2-2) tossed six innings to earn the win.
Delaware State reliever Zach Cooney struck out a career-high 10 batters in 5.2 innings of relief in the opener.
The Hornets return to action on Wednesday (Apr. 1) with a non-conference game at Rider. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Lawrence Twp., N.J.
