PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (April 19, 2019)-The Morgan State Lady Bears split Friday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division softball doubleheader at Maryland Eastern Shore (MDES) by defeating the Hawks, 6-5 before losing 5-3 in Game 2 at Hawk Field.
 
Morgan State improved to 16-23 overall and 7-4 in the MEAC, while Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 8-27, 3-7 MEAC.
 
The Game 2 loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Morgan State over the Hawks.
 
In Game 1, the Hawks' Breana Florez hit a two-run shot to right center field to pull the hosts within 3-2. Shore then tied it on a single up the middle by Stephanie Huff, which with a fielding error on Morgan State allowed Allison Gingrich to score.
 
The Lady Bears reclaimed the lead with a run in the fourth and added two more runs in the sixth when Caitlin Williams scored on a throwing error and Damali Young singled through the left side to score Jalian Young to give Morgan State a 6-3 lead.
 
MDES pulled within a run when Huff drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh when she doubled to right field to score Kendal Turner and Gingrich to make it a 6-5 game.
 
The Hawks were led by Anissa Derifield, who went 3-for-4 at the plate and Huff, who recorded two hits and drove in two runs. Florez had 2 RBI and walked twice.
 
Morgan State was led by Damishah Charles and Damali Young, who both recorded two hits. Charles scored twice, while Young scored a run and had a RBI.
 
Stephanie Rundlett (11-15) picked up the win for Morgan State and threw four strikeouts in seven innings pitched. LeAnn Gingrich was charged with the loss, falling to 3-12 on the season.
 
Game 2
The Shore took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and then added three more runs in the third inning when Nasya Goodman capped it off with a three run homer to center field to increase the Hawks' lead to 4-0. Unfortunately, for Morgan State, the Hawks weren't done, as Daeshia Jones doubled to score Allison Gingrich to give the hosts a 5-0. 
 
Morgan State got a run back in the top of the fourth when Haylee Bobos singled through the left side to score Damishah Charles and cut the deficit to 5-1.
 
Evvie Buehlman homered to left field to lead off the top of the fifth inning and brought the Lady Bears within 5-2.
 
Morgan State would score its final run in the seventh inning, when Giselle Alvarez singled up the middle to score Jalian Young.
 
Damali Young and Sarah Heagy each were 2-for-3 at the plate for Morgan State.
 
Morgan State and MDES will conclude their series on Sunday with a single game at noon. The Lady Bears will look to play the role of spoiler, as the contest will mark Senior Day for the Hawks.