PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team completed a postponed game with the Howard University Bison with a 8-7 win on Tuesday afternoon (April 23) before falling 13-5 in the third matchup between the two teams this season.
 
Tuesday’s games served as senior day for the Hawks. Before play began, seniors Heidi Smith (Odenton, MD), Breana Florez (Houston, TX), Kiana Peterson (Willingboro, NJ) and Daeshia Jones (Teaneck, NJ) were recognized for their contributions as Hawk student-athletes.
 
The first game of the day was the completion of the teams’ March 24 game that was called due to darkness in the fifth inning. That contest stood 7-6 with the Hawks up and two outs as freshman Anissa Derifield (Woodbridge, VA) stepped into the batter’s box and Peterson stood on third base. Derifield would lay down a bunt single to score a run and make the score 8-6.
 
Howard would rally in the seventh inning and close the gap to 8-7 with zero outs. The Hawks would clamp down after that and complete the victory that took one month to get.
 
In game two, the Bison jumped on Eastern Shore early as they led 5-0 before their first out. The bats for Maryland Eastern Shore would respond in the bottom of the first inning as Derifield hit a single through the left side to score Florez and freshman Rachel Gingrich (Landisburg, PA). Later in the inning, a fielding error from HU would allow sophomore Stephanie Huff (Montoursville, PA) to score and the first ended with the Bison up 5-3.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore would cool off after the first, but Howard kept their offense rolling and carried a 12-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. After two strikeouts from the Hawks, junior Allison Gingrich (Landisburg, PA) was hit by a pitch to put a runner on first base. Jones would follow that with a double to the left center gap to score a run and make the score 12-4.
 
One inning later, Howard led 13-4. Eastern Shore saw junior Kendal Turner (Edgewood, MD) score a run but that would not be enough to extend the game as HU would get the 13-5 win after five innings played.