PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Days before their opening fall tournament in Pasadena, Md., the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) softball team announced their 2015 spring schedule. The calendar features numerous tournaments while hosting 13 games at Hawks Field.
In February (02/06-02/07), UMES begins the season in Buies Creek, N.C. for the Campbell University Tournament. The seven-team tournament includes Maryland Eastern Shore, Campbell, East Tennessee State, Presbyterian, St. John’s, Towson, and Youngstown State.
Two weeks later (02/20-02/22), the team heads to Spartanburg, S.C. to play in the University of South Carolina-Upstate (USC-Upstate) tournament. The event features UMES, Bryant, George Washington, and USC-Upstate.
At the end of February (02/27-02/28), the squads goes down south to Rock Hill, S.C. to compete in the Winthrop University Tournament.
In March (03/06-03/08), the Lady Hawks travel to Baltimore to participate in a three-day tournament, hosted by the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
A week later (03/13-03/15), the club wraps up tournament play in Greensboro, N.C. at the North Carolina A&T (NCAT) Tournament. A year ago, UMES went 2-2 while outscoring their opponents 18-6 in the victories.
In the heart of March, the team will play three opponents from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) South Division. On March 17th, Maryland Eastern Shore goes to Savannah, Ga. to play the Lady Tigers of Savannah State University (SSU). The next day (03/18), UMES heads to Orangeburg, S.C. where South Carolina State University (SCSU) awaits. On March 19th, the squad takes on North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, N.C.
Two days later (03/21-03/22), UMES travels to our Nation’s Capital to play Howard University in a three-game series. Last season, the Lady Hawks swept Howard, 3-0, led by Morgan King (Danville, Ill.) tallying seven hits in the two-day span.
On March 28-29, the club hosts Coppin State University (CSU) in a pivotal three-game series. A year ago, Coppin State reached the MEAC Tournament in Ormond Beach, Fla.
In April (04/03-04/04), the Lady Hawks travels to Norfolk, Va. to take on the Spartans of Norfolk State University (NSU). Last season, Norfolk State made the MEAC Tournament.
After nearly two weeks off (04/16), Maryland Eastern Shore meets SCSU for a second time at Hawks Field. Two days later (04/18-04/19), UMES host Hampton University in a three-game set. A year ago, both clubs played televised contests on ESPN in Hampton, Va.
On April 22nd, the squad takes on the University of Delaware (UD) in a non-conference bout at Hawks Field. Three days later (04/25-04/26), the Lady Hawks resume conference play to host in-state rival Morgan State University (MSU) on UMES Senior Day.
In May (05/02/05/03), Maryland Eastern Shore wraps up the regular-season on the road against rt. 13 rival, Delaware State University (DSU), in a three-game series.
On May 7-9, the MEAC Softball Championship will be held in Ormond Beach, Fla. The top four teams from both divisions qualify for the tournament. The winner receives an automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament for a chance at a National Title.