TAYLOR, Mich.-Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) had lost just once heading into day two of the 2011 NCAA Championship. They then topped Kutztown and Vanderbilt to remain undefeated. Then the Hawks stepped up. Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) handed FDU just their second loss of the event in the finals of day two setting up a second-date tomorrow morning between the nation's number one and two programs.
The Hawks easily handled the Knights 4-1 and were up 3-0 to start.
"Our earlier loss to Nebraska hurt, because we were up," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "But looking back we needed it, it refocused our team and we are where we need to be, bowling on the final day with a good chance to win the title."
In game one the starting line-up of Paula Vilas,Martha Perez, Anggie Ramirez, Kristina Frahm and Maria Rodriguez combined for seven strikes, four in a row to start, to dominate FDU 244 -182. UMES took advantage of a pair of opens, one in the second and a split in the eighth to put up a 62 pin advantage for the game.
In the second set the Hawks changed lanes and found it slightly more difficult on the left.UMES opened with a split-six and got just two more from Vilas to post an eight with nothing to build on. It didn't matter, the rest of the team rolled four strikes over the next five frames to extend their lead. Frahm would open the ninth but Rodriguez would strike and spare.
FDU needed to strike out but got an eight-spare and a strike. They fell 194-184.
Up 2-0, the Hawks put the pedal down in game three. FDU put on the breaks. The Knights would open five frames and amass just a 163. In comparison UMES got really hot. They opened with two spares but threw an impressive nine strikes in a row, followed by a nine on the fill ball to post a day high of 278.
Switching back to the left lane the Hawks struggled again. While they didn't open a single frame, they spared five and that allowed FDU to get the win throwing six strikes, 225-206. It would be the Knight's only game over 200 in the match.
The Hawks closed the door in the fifth game, taking advantage of two 7-10 splits from FDU to post a 196-189 win. UMES made it interesting as FDU recovered, Frahm left an open in the ninth. Rodriguez had to strike out to seal win. She did.
With the win UMES goes 3-1 on the day and will place the very same FDU squad tomorrow morning with the first ball being thrown at 10:40 a.m. The winner will face the Vanderbilt and Nebraska winner for the national championship at 3:40 p.m. The Commodores upset the previously unbeaten Huskers 4-1 as well, forcing the semi-final round tomorrow before the championship. Both semi-final matches will be streamed live on NCAA.com and the finals will be recorded for airing on ESPN on Sunday.