After opening up the season at Longwood University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team will be welcoming the University at Albany to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium for it’s first home stand of the season.
The four-game set kicks off on Friday (February 25) at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader slated for Saturday (February 26) at noon and the finale on Sunday (February 27) at noon.
The Hawks enter the game 0-3 after a rough outing in Farmville, Virginia where fielding errors plagued the team, while the offense began to click on Saturday and a slew of runs were scored early on Sunday.
While entering the weekend at 0-3 themselves, the Great Danes took on #16 Georgia to kick off their season – Albany won’t play a home series until March 25.
Albany last came to the Shore in 2020, one of the few series the Hawks were able to play before the shutdown due to Covid-19. The Hawks lost the series 1-2, dropping the Saturday doubleheader but coming out with a resounding 10-3 win with Andrew Revels, Dillon Oxyer and Brian Cordell combining for five hits and six runs in the contest.
Hawk HypeSophomore Alex McCoy was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week for his efforts against the Lancers. The first baseman batted .250/.455/.250 over the weekend, highlighted by a three walk, one hit and four run performance on Sunday.
Known for his blocking behind the plate, catcher Ryan Howe was a monster while batting against Longwood. The junior started two games and batted .500/.571/1.167, with a home run and a double – good for four RBIs. Platoonmate Tyler Woodward is also laying the lumber, scoring the Hawks first run of the season with a homer on Friday, with a .385/.385/.692 slash line.
Sunday’s starter Evan Nibblett got it done on the mound, earning an Other Top Performers nod by the MEAC – the senior has a 1.80 ERA over five innings pitched, striking out three in his start.Scouting AlbanyThree regulars for the Great Danes currently are sporting an OPS at 1.000 or better – Jason Bottari, Will Feil and Brad Malm – while much of the team has struggled at the plate. Malm was a monster at the dish for Albany, stroking three homers during the series against Georgia.
Redshirt sophomore Anthony Germinerio was outstanding on the mound for Albany against a stacked Georgia squad. The 2021 America East All-Rookie selection threw six innings of two-run ball against the SEC powerhouse, striking out four – in 2021 Germinerio had a 54:17 K:BB.
The gloves have been a positive for Albany, only committing one error against Georgia, good for a .990 fielding percentage. That solo error was committed by starter Cregg Scherrer, which cost the redshirt sophomore an unearned run.Expected Starters
Maryland Eastern Shore Cameron Bratton (0-1 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP)
Noah Covington (0-1 9.00 ERA, 3 IP)
Evan Nibblett (0-0 1.80 ERA, 5 IP)
Derrick Rabb Jr. (0-0 4.50 ERA, 4 IP) University at Albany Ray Weber (0-1 6.75 ERA, 4 IP)Anthony Germinerio (0-0 3.00 ERA, 6 IP)Cregg Scherrer (0-1 6.75 ERA, 2.2 IP)TBA