Princess Anne, Md. (March 25, 2009)—Mount St. Mary's swept a doubleheader at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday afternoon to stretch its win streak to four. The Mount took the opening game, 15-5, before earning a 6-3 win in the second game.

The Mount (8-9) has won four straight games and is 8-3 over its past 11 games after starting the season with a 0-6 mark.

In the second game, the Hawks opened the scoring when Pat Hercinger solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Mount evened the score in the third when Mike Matta singled up the middle and came around to score on a Jacob Darr two-base hit.

The Mount took the lead with a four-run fifth inning. Alex Andrews singled to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tony Quaranta. After Matta grounded out, Darr singled to left to plate Andrews with the go-ahead run. Matt Staso followed with a double to center field to score Darr before Kyle Kane tripled home Staso to give the Mount a 4-1 advantage. Kane scored on a passed ball for a four-run Mount lead.

The Hawks (5-19) responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Remo Orsini doubled and Phil Vaughn followed with a bunt single. Orsini then scored on a wild pitch and Hercinger drove home Vaughn with a ground out.

The Mount rounded out the scoring when Staso scored in the top of the seventh on a UMES balk.

Mike Matta struck out five in 2.2 innings of relief to earn his second save for starter Marshall Thomason, who allowed three runs with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings to earn the victory.

At the plate, Darr went 2-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Mount offense while Josh Winters and Andrews added two hits each.

In the opening game, the Mount took an 8-1 lead en route to the 15-5 victory. Mount St. Mary's took control of the game early by scoring three times in the top of the first inning. Tommy Flynn and Darr each singled to open the frame and Staso followed with a two-run double to left to give the Mount a 2-0 advantage. Staso came around to score on a Shane Eyler groundout.

The Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the first on a Hercinger triple, but the Mount took control by scoring the next five runs of the game.

Staso drove home Flynn with a double in the third inning for a 4-1 lead. In the fourth, the Mount scored three times to grab a 7-1 lead. Joe Kavanagh singled to open the inning and Josh Winter followed with his team-leading third triple of the season. Winter scored on the play on a throwing error by the center fielder. Flynn added an RBI single for the 7-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, the Mount had runners on first and third with two outs and executed a double steal with Kane stealing home on the play.

UMES countered with a three-run inning in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Vaughn RBI double and a two-run double from Ellio Alston.

Kavanagh's RBI double in the top of the seventh gave the Mount the 9-4 lead while the Mount added two runs in the eighth. With one out in the eighth, Flynn singled for his fourth hit of the game and stole second base. Darr followed with a double to plate Flynn and Kane doubled to score Darr for the 11-4 advantage.

The Mount sealed the win with four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Zach Helman and Quaranta each had RBI singles, Steve Benvenuto added an RBI groundout, and Kane an RBI single in the inning.

Starting pitcher Costa Kapothanasis improved to 3-2 on the season, striking out seven while allowing four runs in seven innings of work. Freshman Dan Horner allowed one run in two innings of relief.

At the plate, Flynn paced the Mount offense with a 4-for-6 day with three runs scored and a stolen base. Kane went 3-for-6 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and two RBI while Darr was 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Kavanagh went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored with Staso going 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI.

The Mount returns to action on Tuesday, March 31, with a 2:30 p.m. game at George Mason.

Game Notes...The Mount is now 19-4 all-time against UMES since moving to Division I in 1989...The Mount has won the past six meetings with the Hawks...The Mount stole four bases in the twinbill, giving the team 27 steals on the year...The Mount totaled 29 steals for the entire year last season.