BALTIMORE – Coppin State's baseball team split a pair of games ending their weekend series against Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, April 11
th. The Eagles dropped the earlier game 7-3 and then took the later game 12-6.
The Eagles scored first in game one against the Hawks with three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Outfielder
George Dragon, infielder
Erik Crossman, and outfielder
Darien Percell all recorded hits in that inning. Percell hit an RBI single to right field that scored Dragon from second base. CSU led 1-0 early.
UMES tied the game in the fourth inning on a defensive lapse by the Eagles. The leadoff batter hit a single and then stole second base. On his steal attempt Coppin State was issued a throwing error as the base runner continued to advance crossing home plate tied the game at 1-1.
Coppin State fell behind 4-1 after the Hawks scored three runs on three hits and one fielding error by the Eagles. UMES led the inning off with a solo home run and continued to apply pressure. Midway through the inning, freshman relief pitcher
Jahmon Taylor replaced starting pitcher
Andrew O'Dwyer and guided CSU through the inning.
Later on in the seventh inning,
Erik Crossman scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. The Eagles cut the deficit to two runs with two hits in the seventh. Crossman singled to the pitcher and freshman catcher
John O'Dwyer singled to left field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Coppin State scored one run on one hit and an error by the Hawks. Crossman had his third hit of the game with a single to the third baseman advancing McIlwain to second base and Dragon to third base. The next batter for the Eagles, Percell drew a bases loaded walk scoring Dragon for their third run of the game. UMES struck out the final two batters of the inning and held on to a 4-3 lead with one inning left to play.
The Hawks sealed the win in game three of the weekend series with three runs on three hits in the top of the ninth inning. Pitcher
Desean Rabb was inserted in the final inning for the Eagles to stop their late rally. The Eagles offense was unable to score any runs during the bottom of the ninth and the Hawks escaped with a 7-3 victory.
At the plate,
Erik Crossman finished with a team-high three hits and one run scored.
Darien Percell added two hits and a pair of RBIs.
Jamar Criss had the Eagles only double base hit as CSU finished with nine total hits. On the mound,
Andrew O'Dwyer was issued the loss after tossing 4.1 innings. Taylor struck out three and Rabb had one strikeout.
Jamar Criss led Coppin State with three hits, three RBIs, two runs scored and one home run in the Eagles 12-6 victory in the final game of their doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, April 11 in Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore.
For Criss, it was his second homer of the season.
John Kraft also added his fourth home run of the series against UMES and eighth of the year.
Kraft finished the game with two hits, two RBIs, two runs scored and one homer.
Coppin State (8-22 6-6 MEAC) scored 12 runs on 16 hits by nine different batters.
Bryant Miranda led off the top of the second inning with a single up the middle for Coppin's first hit of the game. Miranda then stole second base.
George Dragon put the Eagles on the board first with an RBI single to left field, scoring Miranda giving Coppin State a 1-0 lead.
Kraft racked up his first hit of the game with a double through the right side at the top of the third inning.
Criss singled to the pitcher in the top of the fourth inning tallying his first hit of the game.
In the top of the fifth inning Coppin State exploded for eight runs on seven hits.
Freshman catcher
Malik White led off the inning with a double to center field.
Outfielder
Andrew O'Dwyer followed with an RBI double through the left side, bringing home Criss.
In the next at bat, infielder
Colin Dower stole second base after being walked.
Then Criss picked up an RBI double to center field, scoring Dower and putting the Eagles up 5-0 over UMES.
Dragon pushed the Coppin State lead to 6-0 as he singled up the middle, scoring Criss.
Freshman designated hitter Nazier McIlwain was walked in the next at bat then freshman infielder
Erik Crossman pushed an RBI single to left field, bringing home Dragon.
Andrew O'Dwyer finished the inning for the Eagles with a two RBI double, scoring Crossman and McIlwain.
Coppin took a 9-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning.
In the sixth, Dower singled to right field to lead off the inning for the Eagles.
Then
Jamar Criss slammed a two run homer over the left center fence to put the Eagles ahead of UMES 11-0 to close the top of the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning,
Malik White recorded his second hit of the game as he singled through the left side.
O'Dwyer followed with his third hit of the afternoon as he singled down the left field line.
Junior catcher
Ryan Palardy pinched hit for Coppin State picking up an RBI single through the right side and giving Coppin State a 12-0 lead over UMES.
The Hawks fought back scoring six runs on four hits in the final inning, but the Eagles weathered the UMES rally and held on for a 12-6 win.
Freshman pitcher
Devin Sutorius led Coppin State tossing 6.1 innings and striking out four Hawk batters.
The Eagles will continue its home stand with games against Fairleigh Dickenson on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12-13. Tuesday's game will begin at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday's game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start.
All games will be played at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore. ?
