TOWSON – Despite memorable efforts from
Bryant Miranda,
Jeffrey Fitch and Jack Kraft, the Coppin State baseball saw a late three-run edge disappear and had to settle for a 7-7 tie with Towson in 10 innings at soggy Schuerholz Park in a non-conference contest Tuesday afternoon.
The game was halted in the top of the 11th inning because of darkness.
It's the first time Coppin State (3-25-2) has had two ties in a regular season according to athletic records dating back to 1984. Amazingly, Coppin State has played to a tie twice in a six-day period. The Eagles had four ties as a program since 1984. It was also the second draw this season for Towson (9-23-2).
Like last week's deadlock at La Salle, this one was tough to take for the Eagles, who never trailed against the Tigers or for that matter, the Explorers. In each game, Coppin State led by at least three runs only to have both teams rally for the equalizer before the games could end.
Miranda and Fitch led Coppin State's offense with three hits each. It was each player's second three-hit game of the season. For Miranda, it was his eighth multi-hit effort of the season. Miranda had three hits against Army earlier this season.
He made his hits count by driving in a career best four RBIs. Miranda was a force early as he singled in the first inning to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead, homered in the third inning to expand Coppin State's bulge to 4-0 and then added another single in the fifth inning that gave the Eagles a 5-1 advantage.
For Fitch, it was his fourth multi-hit performance of the season and his second three-hit game.
Colin Dower added a pair of hits for his sixth multi-hit game of the year and second in three games. Dower and Miranda also scored twice for the Eagles.
George Dragon got his team-leading 38th hit, a RBI hit in the first inning that gave CSU a 2-0 lead.
Even when Towson sliced Coppin State's lead to 5-4 after six innings, the Eagles added a pair of insurance runs thanks to a Towson throwing error in the eighth inning. With six outs remaining, Coppin State held a 7-4 advantage. The Tigers chipped away with a run in the eighth. They used a leadoff home run and a one-out RBI triple to tie the game at 7-7.
Coppin State's pitching trio of Jack Kraft, Yayha Muhammed and
Chris Estrada did a yeoman's job. Making his first career start, Kraft tossed three hitless and scoreless frames before allowing his first hit in the fourth inning. Muhammed struck out four batters in 4.1 innings. Estrada pitched out of trouble in the ninth and tenth innings after Towson tied the game.
Peter Bowles, who homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, Richie Blosser and Spencer Sutton led the Tigers with two hits each. Pitcher David Marriggi struck out seven batters over four innings for Towson.
Coppin State immediately returns to action when it travels to Lehigh University in Bethlehem (Pa.) for a 3:00 p.m. start Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles dropped a 17-5 decision to Lehigh at home on March 25. Towson visits Delaware also on Wednesday.
