Fourth-inning eruption lifts CSU past UMES

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Coppin State softball team exploded like a shaken can of Pepsi for 11 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to fly past Maryland Eastern Shore 12-4 in the series finale of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest Wednesday at Hawks Field.
 
The Eagles (3-14 overall, 3-0 MEAC) headed back across the Bay Bridge with smiles wider than the Chesapeake Bay and lots of swagger after sweeping the Hawks. Coppin State recorded nine of its 11 hits during its final two at-bats. For the three-game series, Coppin State hit a sizzling .396. In feasting on UMES pitching, Coppin State pounded out 38 hits including 12 extra base hits.
 

Leading Coppin State's charge against UMES was senior pitcher Candice Van Horn, who enjoyed her first three-hit of the season. It was her fourth multi-hit game of the season and the 24th of her stellar career. For the series, Van Horn had a blast compiling an insane .727 average after going 8-for-11. She leads the Eagles with a .439 batting average.
 
Senior catcher Samantha Denlinger and junior second baseman Kim Brown also had two hits each for the Eagles. Junior centerfielder Shelby Mendoza continued her hot stretch by extending her hitting streak to seven games and driving in a team-high three runs. Mendoza, who has reached base in nine straight games, is batting .400 during her hitting streak.
 
Also extending a hitting streak was freshman third baseman Taylor Haller, who stretched her personal best to five games with a single.
 
The fourth inning was a sight to behold for Coppin State fans. Entering the fourth trailing, 2-1, the Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate and exited the frame in command, 8-2. Van Horn recorded two of her three hits in the fourth inning. Brown and Denlinger each had two-run singles during the uprising. In addition to the five hits, the Eagles also patiently waited out three walks.
 
Run scoring hits from Danielle Smith, Mendoza and Van Horn helped Coppin State add four runs to its advantage in the fifth inning. Van Horn was strong in the circle as well for the Eagles, tossing her second consecutive complete game to earn the victory.
 
Coppin State returns to action on Friday when it visits Howard University for a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Nationals Junior Park.
 
UMES (3-20, 1-5) had five players finish with one hit each.
 
NOTES: Coppin State was 8-for-8 in stolen bases during the three-game series…This was the first time CSU scored double digit runs in consecutive games since it scored 16 each against Bowie State on March 12, 2014…Ten different CSU players recorded at least one hit in the three games against UMES…Denlinger and Mendoza were a two-woman wrecking crew combining for 53.3 percent (16-of-30) of the Eagles' RBIs in this three-game series…Coppin State swept Howard in three games last season.