Shore Sunk by Seventh Inning Walks Against Colonials
Hawks Allow Four Free Passes Giving George Washington Five Runs
SALISBURY, Maryland – It was an even game between the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team and visiting George Washington University, heading into the seventh inning locked up 3-3. Following a series of walks, a hit by pitch, and a pair of singles, the Hawks found themselves down 8-3 by the time they were up to bat in the bottom of the inning, which would be the final score.
Freshman Alec Greenblatt (0-3) would take the loss as the Hawks fell to 5-17 on the season and look towards Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this weekend at Coppin State University.
“It’s a little disappointing because that’s a game that we can handle,” head coach Brian Hollamon said. “GW is a good ballclub and I think we are too – unfortunately I think we just made some tactical mistakes in the seventh that cost us the game.”
The Shore found themselves down early when Colonials shortstop Steve Ditomaso hit a solo home run to left field, aided by strong winds blowing out of the park.
There was a quick response by the Hawks with a pair of singles in the bottom half of the inning from Brian Cordell and Dillon Oxyer, both getting in scoring position when Cordell was able to stretch to third on a hit and run. Bryan Widdowson hit in Cordell when he grounded out to second, then Ryan Howe hit his first RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to drive in Oxyer.
George Washington grabbed a pair of runs in the top of the third off an inside the park home run and then three singles, along with a stolen base, would drive in the third Colonials run to make it 3-2 for the visitors.
In the bottom of the frame, Oxyer hit a two-out single and advanced to third when Widdowson singled on a hard-hit ball to second base. Howe then would hit his 12th RBI of the season with a single himself to score Oxyer to even up the score at 3-3 but the inning would end when Widdowson was thrown out at third trying to reach.
It was quiet through the next three innings on both sides until the seventh when George Washington was able to take advantage of the Hawks being unable to find the strike zone. Ditomaso led off with a single and advanced to second when Noah Levin took a four-pitch walk, then the bases were loaded on a quality bunt by catcher Anthony Frechette. Mike Ludowig then walked by Greenblatt to drive in a run to give the visitors a 4-3 lead.
“We get hits, we get runners on, we do a lot of good things and unfortunately after the third inning we scored no runs,” Hollamon said. “The (opposing) pitcher did a good job but he didn’t get better, we just got worse. From the fourth inning on through the ninth, we didn’t put any pressure on them.”
The usually steady John Killmon had a rough outing, hitting the next batter Logan Leax, then another Colonial crossed the plate when Joe Biancone took a full-count walk. Killmon induced a 4-6-3 double play to the next batter, but another run scored, making it 8-3 Colonials.
“We made a couple of mistakes walk-wise in the seventh that really cost us,” Hollamon said. “They didn’t really beat the ball around the ballpark in that inning, we pretty much made the whole inning a mistake from start to finish.”
Nothing was going for the Shore in the bottom of the seventh and eighth, going down in order both times they were given the opportunity. In the top of the ninth wholesale changes were made in the field, giving some of the young guns an opportunity playing time and a chance to make a difference in the game. Ryan Davis needed just eight pitches to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the ninth, the Hawks would load the bases when Brantley Cutler hit a one-out single and then was pinch ran for by Armani Moore who promptly stole second base. Andrew Revels came to bat and drew a ten-pitch walk and then Kyle Matheny then had his first career hit with a single through the right side. With one out and the bases loaded, the Hawks still couldn’t get anything going and took the loss to the Colonials.
“We should have scored some runs in the latter part of the game, and we didn’t,” Hollamon said. “Offensively we need to pick up the pace, especially with bases loaded, we’re killing ourselves with the bases loaded.”
The Shore gets one day off before heading to play MEAC rival Coppin State University for the first four games of twelve scheduled on the season. Game time is set for 3 p.m. on Friday (April 1), with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 2) scheduled for noon and the getaway game just in time for brunch on Sunday (April 3) at 10 a.m.
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For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.