It literally came down to the final ball, but a strike by All-American Maria Rodriguez gave Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) an opening round win over third-seeded Vanderbilt.

The win advances UMES to play second-seeded Arkansas State, who advanced with a 4-0 win over Delaware State.  More importantly it keeps the Hawks in the winner's bracket of the double elimination format.

The match was like two heavyweights slugging it out.  Second-ranked Vanderbilt won the first two games (205-187, 226-220) to put the Hawks in a hole.  However, clutch bowling by Martha Perez and Anggie Ramierz propelled UMES ahead in games three and four (202-160, 210-201).  Both

Perez and Ramirez struggled in yesterday's seeding matches but the two came out strong today and combined with All-Americans Paula Vilas, who bowled lead-off and Kristina Frahm and Rodriguez, the fourth and fifth bowlers respectively to tie the match.

The Lady Hawks stayed hot in game three, getting the advantage of the Commodores who lost the mark, leaving split after split.  UMES won 225-205.  The tables were reversed in game six as UMES left the splits and allowed Vanderbilt to tie the match at three all, taking it 223-191.

In game four the two teams went back and forth strike for strike and spar for spare. Vandy anchor Josie Ernest recorded two marks in the final frame for the Commodores to put them ahead by seven pins.  All Rodriguez needed was eight but she punctuated the win with a strike giving the Hawks the 218-215 victory.

"It was a tough one," said head coach Sharon Brummell.  "But that is what it all about, the two top teams in the nation going head to head.  I expected nothing but a fight from them, lucky we were left standing at the end."

The match is almost a mirror image from 2008, the year UMES won the title despite earning the seventh seed.  They faced Vanderbilt in the opening round and won 4-0 before facing Arkansas State in the second round, just like they will today at 11:30 a.m.