NORFOLK, Va., May 9, 2024 --- The top-seeded Morgan State Bears snapped a five-game postseason losing streak after upending the No. 6 Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore 7-4 in the first game of the consolation bracket. 

As a team, Morgan State finished with two homeruns, and six RBI’s. Melissa Paz led all players with three RBIs while going 2-of-3 at the plate.  

Ameenah Ballenger had a homerun for UMES and lead the team with two RBIs and hit a perfect 3-for-3 at bat.  

MSU began the game by sending UMES back to their dugout in order. The Bears put the first runs of the day on the scoreboard when Paz hit a two RBI homerun to left field that scored Victoria Fletcher. Morgan State added a third run as Mia Ewell scored an unearned run off a wild pitch to put the Bears up 3-0.  

At the top of the second, Logan Webster singled down the left line recording an RBI, as Ballenger scored the first run of the game for the Hawks.  

Maryland Eastern Shore took a one-run lead in the top of the third inning as Jaycee Holt scored on an error by the pitcher to get things going. Two batters later, Ballenger hit a two RBI home run with Nola Mountain scoring on the play to give the Hawks a 4-3 advantage.  

Morgan State answered in the bottom of the third as a Paz single drove in Chandler Mitchell to even the score. Later in the inning, Ewell hit an RBI double with a run scored from Nia Lewis to put the Bears up 5-4. 

After a scoreless fourth inning and top of the fifth for Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State took a 7-4 lead following a 2 RBI homerun from Gianna Ettore. Despite multiple hits from the Hawks in the final two innings, Morgan State secured a victory and eliminated Maryland Eastern Shore in the double elimination game.  

Morgan State advances to play No. 5 South Carolina State in game eight with a 12 p.m. first pitch.