BALTIMORE, Md. (March 7, 2020)-The Morgan State softball team opened up its home schedule with two wins on Day 1 of the Bear Invitational on Saturday at Lois T. Murray Field. The Lady Bears defeated fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe Maryland Eastern Shore (MDES) 6-1, and then held off Manhattan, 2-1.
 
Morgan State improved to 4-10 on the season, while Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 3-15 and Manhattan dropped to 4-6.
 
In the home opener against Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State scored three runs in both the second and third innings to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Meikel Turner scored the Lady Bears' first run in the second when Ashley Shanks reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on the throw. A wild pitch by the Hawks' pitcher allowed Amy Pacheco to score the second run of the game. Ellen Ebbers stepped to the plate and singled to score Shanks for the 3-0 advantage.
 
Morgan State went back to work with three more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 6-0. Pacheco tripled to right centerfield to drive in Jalian Young and Cayla Sweazie for a 5-0 lead. Shanks followed with a single to shortstop to score Pacheco for the sixth run.
 
The Hawks avoided being shutout when they got on the board with a run in the fourth inning when Jayla Pinkney flied hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Alona Robillard for the lone run.
Morgan State, which finished the game with six runs on six hits, was led by Pacheco, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Young and Shanks each were 1-for-3 with a run.
 
Nasya Goodman of MDES was charged with the loss and fell to 2-7 on the season. Goodman surrendered six runs on six hits and three walks in six innings of work. She also finished with a game-high four strikeouts. Goodman and Jordan Robinson each had a hit for the Hawks, who finished one run on two hits.
 
Mikayla Barnard got the win for Morgan State to improve to 2-3 on the season. Barnard allowed a run and five walks, while throwing two strikeouts in three innings. Mellissa Paz pitched four innings in relief and struck out a game-high four batters.
 
The Lady Bears were in a defensive battle in their evening contest against the Manhattan Jaspers. Manhattan finished with a run on seven hits and left 10 on base. Morgan State scored two runs on four hits and left eight on base.
 
Jalian Young went 1-for-1 with two walks and scored a game-high two runs for the Lady Bears. Haylee Bobos was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk and Ellen Ebbers was 1-for-1, including the game winning RBI.
 
Morgan State struck first when Young scored on a RBI single by Bobos.
 
Manhattan evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning when Annie Moore tripled to right center to score Christine Gebhardt.
 
The score remained tied at 1-1 until the fifth inning when Ellen doubled to right center to score Young for the game winner.
 
Stephanie Rundlett got the win for the Lady Bears to improve to 2-7. Rundlett struck out two batters in seven innings for the win.
 
Nicole Williams (0-2) was charged with the loss for Manhattan. Williams walked five and struck out seven in six innings of work.
 
Moore finished the game going 3-for-4 with a RBI and Gebhardt was 3-for-3 with a run to lead the Jaspers.
 
Morgan State concludes day two of the tournament with a 12 noon contest against Manhattan, before hosting Maryland Eastern Shore in the finale at 2 p.m.