Coppin State baseball headed to North Carolina

Baseball | 3/5/2015 10:18:00 AM

BALTIMORE -- The Coppin State Eagles baseball team will travel to Kinston, North Carolina to face Army Saturday, March 7 in a doubleheader at Grainger Stadium. The contest will be a seven-inning game scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. followed by a nine-inning game beginning at 2:00 p.m.
 
The Eagles (0-4) haven't played since losing to Navy on Wednesday, February 25 due to weather conditions. Coppin State has had four consecutive games canceled because of weather. Army (3-3) will play four games in two days facing Mount St. Mary's Friday, March 6.
 
Dillon O'Brien (0-0) is scheduled to have the ball for the seven-inning game. "This will be the first big opportunity for him this season after finishing up real strong for us last year" – said Coppin State head coach Sherman Reed on starting O'Brien.
 
O'Brien will go in with the expectation to set a good tone in the opener. He will be facing Army's Julian Larimer (0-1, 3.97 ERA)
 
Yahya Muhammad (0-2) will start the second game. "Muhammad has been throwing the ball extremely well" – said Reed. Muhammed will take the lead in the second game with his strong arm and with the chance go deep in the game to continue his good performance on the mound. He will face Daniel Gibbons (0-1, 10.12)
 
Offensively, Coppin State has been led by the big bats of Randal Mendez and Jack Kraft. Both hitters will get the chance to continue to give the offensive spark for the Eagles. Mendez and Kraft have hit safely in each game this season.
 
"We are expecting these two guys to basically continue with the approach of giving us good at bats," Reed said.
 
Coppin will aim for a comeback to a rough start to the season. The doubleheader will give the Eagles an opportunity to turn the season around early and prepare for the MEAC conference competition that starts March 14 against Maryland Eastern Shore. Before Coppin State visits UMES, it will host Saint Bonaventure on Thursday, March 12 at Joe Cannon Stadium.