BALTIMORE – Junior outfielder
Alanna Williams added her name to Coppin State's record books Tuesday afternoon.
During the second outing of a three-game series against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe Maryland Eastern Shore, Williams put her power on display and hit for the hills.
By the end of the game, she had hit for the cycle, something that's hard for even the biggest names to accomplish. Williams is the first Coppin State softball player to hit for the cycle in at least six years.
In the top of the first inning, Williams singled to rightfield. In the top of the third, she tripled down the rightfield line then sent one flying over centerfield fence for a homerun during the top of the fifth.
She finished her first career cycle with a double to centerfield at the top of the sixth inning.
"I've never hit for the cycle before," Williams said. "I didn't know I needed a double to hit the cycle. I was just trying to keep my hitting streak going."
The Ohio native's commanding performance helped the Eagles (3-14, 3-0 MEAC) sweep this year's meetings with UMES. Williams had a .455 batting average during the three-game series, five hits, four runs and four RBIs.
Williams was so focused on keeping her bat hot that she didn't realize what she'd done. Thankfully, the close-knit Coppin State community was more than happy to tell her.
"I found out I hit for the cycle from my teammate
Taylor Haller who heard it from the baseball team," Williams said. "I was excited that I was able to do that and that I had the support from so many baseball players who were texting and congratulating me. My first reaction was to call my dad. He was my coach all my life and my number one fan. Of course I had to call my mom because she's also my number one fan."
The conference victories this week has put the Eagles in a tie for first place Northern Division with Hampton and Norfolk State. However, there isn't much time to celebrate since the team needs to get focused for the weekend.
Coppin State (3-14 overall, 3-0 MEAC) will visit the nation's capital to face Howard University (8-21, 2-4) in a three-game series. Howard took two out of three against UMES two weeks ago. Competition will begin on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Nationals Junior Park. The two teams will conclude with a single game at noon on Saturday.
"I think our momentum will not be a problem this weekend," Williams said. "We're all aiming for a higher goal, which is to go to the MEAC Tournament. We have to win these games to get there."
