BALTIMORE- Coppin State belted five home runs in its doubleheader home sweep of MEAC opponent UMES on Sunday, April 10 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore.
Coppin State (7-21, 5-5) won game one 3-1 and game two 16-4.
Senior outfielder John Kraft led the Eagles with five hits, seven RBIs, four runs scored and three home runs in two games.
The Eagles scored three runs on five hits in the opening game.
Kraft picked up Coppin State's first hit of the game in the bottom of the first inning but the game would remain scoreless until the top of the fifth inning.
UMES got on the board first taking a 1-0 lead to end the fifth inning, but the Hawks were unable to cross home plate again.
John Kraft tied the game at 1-1 after he crushed a homer to lead off the top of the sixth inning.
Freshman infielder Erik Crossman led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a bunt single for the Eagles second hit of the game.
Freshman catcher Malik White reached on a fielder's choice advancing Crossman to second followed by an Andrew O'Dywer walk to load the bases.
A bases loaded walk by Kraft scored Crossman, advancing White and O'Dwyer and gave the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.
Senior infielder Colin Dower hit a RBI groundout to the second baseman bringing home White.
Coppin State would hold on for a 3-1 victory as junior infielder Bryant Miranda singled to right field and senior outfielder George Dragon signed to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning to close the game for the Eagles.
Freshman pitcher Krystian Negron tossed 8.0 innings and retired seven Hawk batters.
In the final game of the doubleheader the Eagles momentum shined as Coppin State ripped off 16 runs, 15 hits, and four home runs. Â
John Kraft, George Dragon and Jamar Criss all led Coppin State with three hits apiece as Nazier McIlwain recorded his first career grand slam.
John Kraft led off the game for CSU with a double to left-center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice groundout to the pitcher.
The Eagles scored first as freshman infielder Jamar Criss put an RBI single into left field, scoring Kraft.
During the next at bat, Bryant Miranda reached on a fielder's choice and later stole second base.
Senior outfielder George Dragon blasted a two run homer over the left center fence, bring home Miranda and giving Coppin State 3-0 lead to end the first inning.
Criss added his second hit which was the Eagles fourth hit of the game with a single to right field in the bottom of the third inning.
UMES responded with four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning.
Then, the Eagles answered with six runs on four hits of their own to close the fifth inning.
Andrew O'Dwyer reached base on an error by the shortstop to lead off the inning.
Next, Kraft stepped to the plate and knocked his first of two home runs over right center, scoring O'Dwyer.
Colin Dower followed with a walk and advanced to third base on a Miranda groundout.
Dragon added more points for the Eagles with an RBI single to right field, bringing home Dower as CSU took the lead 5-4 and never looked back.
In the next at bat, Nazier McLiwain was walked, advancing Dragon to second followed by a Erik Crossman single down the third base line, advancing Dragon and McIlwain.
Freshman catcher John O'Dwyer slapped a two run RBI single into right field, scoring Dragon and McIlwain.
Coppin State held a 9-4 lead after the fifth inning.
The Eagles continued to add points scoring seven runs on seven hits to close the sixth inning.
Jamar Criss registered his third hit of the game with a lead off double through the left side.
Miranda reached base after being hit by a pitch and Dragon singled to center field for his third hit as well advancing Criss and Miranda to load the bases.
Freshman Nazier McIlwain smashed his first collegiate home run in grand slam style. McIlwain homered to right center scoring Criss, Miranda and Dragon and giving the Eagles a 13-4 advantage.
Coppin State would not stop there.
John O'Dwyer double to left field for his second hit of the game and Andrew O'Dywer followed up with a single to left field.
John Kraft cracked his second deep ball of the contest with a two run home run bringing his total to seven on the year as the Eagles finished with a 16-4 victory.
Freshman pitcher Aaron Rea tossed a complete game going all seven inning and striking out six UMES batters.
Coppin State will complete its series against UMES with a single game on Monday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Joe Cannon Stadium.Â
