NORFOLK, Va. – The Coppin State baseball team dropped a difficult-to-digest 6-5 decision to Norfolk State in an 11-inning thriller at Marty L. Miller Field in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest Sunday afternoon. It was a frustrating finish to another tough weekend for the Eagles, who also lost the opening game of the doubleheader, 10-2.
Even though Coppin State dropped to 1-19 overall and 0-9 in the MEAC Northern Division, there's evidence that April could be a much better month for the Eagles. A closer forensic analysis reveals that all three of Coppin State's conference series have been on the road, a distinct disadvantage especially when the Eagles have suffered three walk-off defeats, one in each series.
Coppin State's next four MEAC North series will be in the friendly confines of Joe Cannon Stadium. That means the Eagles will play 12 of their final 15 MEAC contests at home. There's an opportunity for Coppin State to make up some ground in the MEAC North as it will have the advantage of batting last and not traveling.
Even though those are bright spots on the horizon, it was hard to see the bigger picture following a game in which the Eagles was one out away from earning a Sunday split.
George Dragon and
Darien Percell had hits in each game to extend streaks. They both combined for six hits over the two games.
Percell had two hits in the opening game and added another one in the nightcap to extend his hitting streak to eight games. The eight-game streak is tied for the team best this season. In the Eagles' four games this past week, Percell compiled a team-high .429 batting average. He had two of his three multi-hit games during that span. He complemented his hitting by driving in five runs and drawing three walks.
Meanwhile, Dragon collected his eighth multi-hit game of the season with a pair of knocks in the nightcap. He has a six-game hitting streak. Overall, Dragon has a hit in 14 of Coppin State's last 15 games. Impressively, Dragon has reached base in every game this season.
Alejandro Hernandez and
Jeffrey Fitch had hits in each game of the doubleheader.
Now for the gut-wrenching ending, with Coppin State leading 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Spartans (9-10, 6-3) tied the game with a two-out hit from Roger Hall and then won the game two innings later when Mike Bruno doubled down the rightfield line.
The loss ruined a strong pitching performance from
Anderson Burgess, who gave Coppin State a chance to win with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. He held the Spartans scoreless for five innings until Coppin State's offense got going.
The Eagles scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 4-0 lead. The big hit in the inning was a two-out two-run single from Hernandez.
William Brown also had a bases loaded RBI single to begin the scoring.
Even though the Eagles advantage eventually disappeared, Coppin State re-took the lead, 5-4, following Percell's RBI single that scored
Randal Mendez, who was hit by a pitch with one out, in the top of the ninth inning.
Percell got the Eagles off on the right foot with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning of the opening game for a 1-0 lead. One of Percell's two hits in the first game was a double. Hernandez opened the game with a leadoff single.
Coppin State returns to action Wednesday afternoon when it visits Navy at 3:00 p.m. The Eagles will host Maryland Eastern Shore on Friday for a single game at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
