Maryland Eastern Shore freshman Karim Gonzalez pitched a complete game and senior Russell Deutchmann hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to cap 11-5 come-from-behind-win for the Hawks over Florida A&M Saturday at Hawks Stadium.
The win for UMES (11-30, 9-6 MEAC) stops a five-game winless skid and ensures that the Hawks can finish no worse than .500 in conference play. The loss for Florida A&M (14-20, 5-6) is its fourth in six games after a doubleheader sweep yesterday at UMES.
Gonzalez (2-5) allowed 10 hits and three walks but struck out seven for the victory.
Four Hawks had two runs apiece and Pat Hercinger was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Deutchmann finished 1-for-4 with the grand slam to left field while Jorge Pichardo picked up a hit and a pair of RBIs. Bryan Chaikowsky also had a hit, run scored and a walk with two stolen bases.
Florida A&M had a 3-0 lead in the second inning but the Hawks came back with two in the third and one run in the fourth to knot the game, 3-3.
With two out and one on in the second, Michael Guy stole second and was driven home by Remo Orsini with a base hit through the left side of the infield. Orsini moved to second on the throw and to third on a passed ball. He came home on Hercinger's double to left.
Guy scored again in the fourth to help the Hawks pull even. He reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop and advanced to second on an error. Guy went to third on another passed ball allowed by FAMU's Daniel Lee and scored when Jared Jefferies saw a Tyler Love grounder go through his legs at short.
UMES took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The first three Hawks reached in the inning and Hercinger laid down a bunt single to get Phil Vaughn in from third. Deutschmann followed lining hard into a double play at short, before Chaikowsky singled and stole second.
Pichardo promptly lined a single back through the middle, scoring Chaikowsky and Hercinger.
Tim Jones added an RBI single for the Rattlers to get one back in the top of the eighth and make it 6-4, but the Hawks exploded for five in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.
Ben Vasko pinch hit for Guy to lead the frame off and singled through the left side. Love moved him second with a sacrifice bunt. Vaughn then reached on catcher's interference and Orsini walked to load the bases. Hercinger coaxed another free pass off Rattlers' reliever Elliott Bonner (0-1), forcing Vasko in from third.
Then came Deutschmann's first collegiate home run.
Tim Schalch started the game for A&M, surrendered three runs and left after four innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Bonner gave up eight runs on five hits and four walks for the loss.
Three Florida A&M players had two hits each led by Jones who was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk.
The Rattlers outhit the Hawks, 10-8, but committed three more errors than UMES.
The Hawks are back in action with a home-and-home series with Navy Tuesday and Wednesday. The first game in Annapolis, Md., will begin at 4 p.m., while the return engagement is set for 3 at Hawks Stadium.