Brandon Schott has brought in a run in six of UMES's last seven games.

April 19, 2013

Game Notes - UMES @ Delaware State

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PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - UMES will play its sixth MEAC series of the season this weekend, hosting Route 13 rival Delaware State for a three-game set at Hawks Stadium. The two schools will play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon followed by a single game on Sunday at noon as well.

This is the second of three series between the Hawks and Hornets this year. In the first series in Dover, UMES fell in all three games to Delaware State. It is the first and only series between the two in Princess Anne this year.

The Hawks come into Saturday after falling to Navy on Tuesday at 6-33 overall and 3-12 in the MEAC North for fourth place. Delaware State is coming off a walk-off defeat to La Salle and stands in first place in the MEAC Northern Division at 13-2 in conference play and 24-11 overall.

LORD BYRON - HAS REACHED BASE LAST 36 GAMES
Byron Campbell, last year's Co-Most Improved Player for the UMES baseball, has reached base in his last 36 games, dating back to February 26th at the VMI Tournament. Coming into last Tuesday, his streak is tied for eighth longest in Division I.

He surpassed his own personal best record, as he reached base in 34 consecutive games in 2012 from March 2nd until April 27th.

Currently he leads the team in many offensive categories, including a .326 batting average, a .463 on-base percentage, 14 extra base hits, 13 doubles, a home run, a .450 slugging percentage, 58 total bases, 27 runs, 10 hit by pitches and 24 walks. His reached base streak also included a 13-game hitting streak and nine multi-hit contests.

LAST TIME OUT: UMES FALLS IN LAST HOME MIDWEEK
UMES hosted Navy for a rematch in the final midweek game of the season at Hawks Stadium on Tuesday. The Hawks fell in the contest 13-2.

Stephen Bull earned another multi-hit game in a midweek game, earning the first two hits for UMES in a 2-for-4 game. Jeffrey Fleetwood also got a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

SCHOTT ON THE JOHNNY BENCH AWARD WATCH LIST
The Greater Wichita Sports Commission announced on March 11th that UMES catcher Brandon Schott has been placed on the 2013 Johnny Bench Award Watch List. This award is given to the top catcher in Division I college baseball each year.

Schott, the only player that plays in the state of Maryland or the MEAC to be nominated for the award, stands with a .304 batting average, 12 doubles and .411 slugging percentage. The two-year team captain also leads the team with three sacrifice flies and has brought home a team-best 23 runs so far this season.

Pedro Swann TAKES OVER AS UMES HEAD COACH
UMES Director of Athletics Keith Davidson announced in September that former major leaguer and MEAC star Pedro Swann is the new head coach of Hawks baseball. Swann replaces Will Gardner, who left UMES after six seasons.

Swann brings a wealth of baseball experience to Princess Anne, playing in the professional ranks for 17 years from 1991 to 2007. He played for Delaware State from 1989-1991, earning all-conference honors all three years and hitting .421 with 26 home runs in his career.

ROOKIE ROTATION
Two freshmen take up the first two spots in the rotation in MEAC play for the Hawks. The game one starter is Chris Lopez, who earned a win his his first start of his UMES career with two runs in 5.2 innings against Lafayette. He currently stands with a 1-5 record and a 6.34 ERA in 32.2 innings. In the game two slot is Will Turley, who has a 4.86 ERA in 37 innings. Turley allowed just two earned runs in his first four appearances, including going six scoreless innings in a win over Coppin State.

NEW LOOK INFIELD PAYS DIVIDENDS
Outside of Jeffrey Fleetwood, UMES has relied on a young infield group this season that has been very strong early on.

At the left side of the infield, two freshmen man the ranks with Connor Breslin, who is hitting .246 with five doubles and has a MEAC Rookie of the Week award, taking the hot corner and Mike Escanilla, who leads all UMES players with 13 multi-hit contests, serves as the squad's shortstop.

At second base, sophomore Joshua James returned to the position after playing in center field for the 16 games. James has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
Before its loss to La Salle, Delaware State swept Coppin State last weekend in Dover by a combined score of 28-2 in the three games. Currently the Hornets lead Norfolk State by five games for first place in the MEAC North.

Leading the team at the plate is junior outfielder/catcher Mike Alexander, who is hitting .387 with 32 RBI and 26 stolen bases. Five regular starters on the team are hitting at least .353, including junior infielder Cameron Cecil, who sports a .371 average with 21 RBI and 33 free passes, and junior second baseman JP Frey, who bats .360 with 17 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Aaron Nardone has a squad-best 15 extra base hits including two home runs, 33 RBI and a .353 batting average.

On the pitching mound, Delaware State will begin with a pair of right-handers. Redshirt senior Jordan Elliott, who is 5-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 56 innings, is scheduled for game one. The seven-inning contest with be thrown by junior Matt McClain, who stands at 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA, including four complete games. Game three will either be thrown by senior righty Elliott Gardner, who is 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA, or senior southpaw Zach Adkins, who has a 1-1 record and a 6.39 ERA. The top pitcher in the bullpen is right-handed sophomore Zach Candeloro, who in eight appearances has a 2-0 record and a 1.80 ERA.

HAWKS BASEBALL RETURNS TO WGOP 540 AM
UMES baseball will be back on the air this season on the flagship station of the Hawks Radio Network, Timeless Favorites WGOP 540 AM. Dave Vatz will provide play-by-play for the games, while Steve Pettit and Bill Berryhill serve as the primary producers in the Pocomoke City studio. All games that are broadcast will be available online for free.

MID-WEEK MONSTER
Stephen Bull has been a strong player for UMES during mid-week play, hitting .600, including a .833 slugging and .657 on-base percentages, in the last seven games of non-conference play. Six of those games were multi-hit contests, including four hits against George Washington on March 26th. Bull has combined to score eight runs and drive in seven additional runs in those games.

TRE-VON IS BACK AND SWINGING
Tre-von Johnson is back in the UMES lineup after recovering from an injury and is hitting the ball well. The all-time UMES hits leader is hitting .333 with a team-best two home runs, driving in 11 runs and stealing three bases. Johnson has eight multi-hit contests in 20 games played.