BALTIMORE –
Gabriel Ziller, Kim Brown and
Alyssa Barker were named the Coppin State University softball award winners during the 2014 All-Sport Banquet on Tuesday, May 7. Ziller won the unsung player award, Brown was named most improved and Barker was selected as most valuable player.
They helped Coppin State qualify for the MEAC tournament for the fifth straight season. The Eagles defeated Savannah State, 2-1, during the tournament before falling to Delaware State, 5-2. Coppin State finished its season with a 13-27 overall record despite numerous injuries.
Ziller was named to the All-MEAC Softball Academic Team and to the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team. She played in 39 games and finished with a .238 batting average. Ziller had 24 hits, including seven multi-hit games, which was tied for third on the team. She also had six doubles and three home runs. She had a .347 on-base percentage and a .386 slugging percentage.
In helping the Eagles to a doubleheader sweep against UMES, Ziller was 4-for-6 with four runs scored and three runs batted in. She drove in both of Coppin State's runs in a season-ending 5-2 loss to Delaware State in the MEAC tournament with a double and a fielders' choice. Ziller drove in a season-high three runs against McDaniel in the second game of a doubleheader on April 9. She was tied for third on the team in total bases (39).
Brown finished with a .225 batting average. She had four multi-hit games (Norfolk State, Howard, Delaware State and Hampton). Brown had 23 hits and was tied for fourth on the team with 16 runs batted in. She slammed a pair of home runs this season, a three-run shot against Norfolk State (March 23) and a solo home run against Morgan State (May 3). She had five doubles, including two against Howard on April 5. Brown hit .270 (10-for-37) with runners in scoring position. She ended the season by reaching base in seven straight games.
Barker was second on the team with a .330 batting average. She also led the Eagles with nine doubles and finished the season with 10 multi-hit games, which was second on the team. Barker also had two three-hit games (Bowie State and George Mason). Barker drove in nine runs and started the season with a seven-game hitting streak (Feb. 22-Mar. 15). She was .333 with runners in scoring position (11-for-33).
While pitching, Barker compiled a 10-17 record with 18 complete games. She finished the season with a 4.30 earned run average in 143.1 innings pitched. She tossed a complete game and held Savannah State to one run in a 2-1 MEAC tournament victory. Barker was also named MEAC Pitcher of the Week after winning five games in one week (two against Maryland Eastern Shore and three against Howard) and compiling a 1.41 earned run average. She allowed two or fewer runs in 15 appearances this year. Barker had two shutouts (Maryland Eastern Shore and Howard).
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