Eagles Soar to Victory Over FDU

BALTIMORE- Coppin State senior outfielders John Kraft and George Dragon both slammed two run homers in the fifth inning of the Eagles 15-8 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University Tuesday evening, April 12 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore.
 
Kraft finished the game with three hits, four RBIs, one run scored and one home run. It was the ninth homer of the season for Kraft, who is second in the MEAC in home runs.
 
Dragon recorded two hits, four runs scored, two RBIs and one home run in the Eagles win.
 
For Dragon, the homer was his second of the season.
 
Coppin State (9-22 overall) scored 15 runs on 15 hits with 14 RBIs.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson (14-16) scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning claiming an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Eagles answered with one run of their own.
 
Junior infielder Bryant Miranda doubled through the left side to lead off the bottom of the second inning for CSU.
 
Senior Darien Percell, who got his first start of the season at pitcher for Coppin State, pushed an RBI single to center field, scoring Miranda to close the second inning with the score tied 1-1.
 
Freshman outfielder Carlos Alviarez added the Eagles third hit of the game with a single to left field in the bottom of the third.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning CSU scored two more runs to take the lead.
 
Miranda and Dragon were walked to lead off the inning, when Percell followed with a single to left field advancing both runners.
 
Freshman infielder Erik Crossman pushed a double RBI single into left center, bringing home Miranda and Dragon as the Eagles took a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning.
 
FDU scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to close the Coppin lead down to 3-2.
 
But the Eagles responded with four runs on three hits to add to their lead over the Knights.
 
Alviarez led the inning off with a walk then John Kraft stepped to the plate and belted a two run homer over the right center field fence to put the Eagles ahead 5-3.
 
Senior infielder Colin Dower followed with a bunt single.
 
Miranda reached base on a fielder's choice when Dragon cracked a two run deep ball over the right field wall giving Coppin State 7-3 lead at the end of the fifth inning.
 
The Knights responded with three runs on four hits in the sixth inning and one run on one hit in the top of the seventh to cut the Eagles lead down to 7-5.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Eagles' bats caught fire.
 
After a pitch to start the inning hit Miranda, Dragon doubled to left center advancing Miranda to third.
 
Erick Crossman brought home Miranda and Dragon for two RBIs as he reached on an error by the centerfielder propelling Coppin's lead to 9-5.
 
Freshman catcher Malik White followed with a double through the left side advancing Crossman to third.
 
Then Carlos Alviarez dropped a two run RBI single into left field, scoring Crossman and White as the Eagles took a commanding 11-5 advantage.
 
John Kraft ended the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to right field.
 
CSU carried its momentum into the bottom of the eighth inning scoring four more runs on three hits.
 
Freshman infielder Jamar Criss led off the inning with a single to shortstop then Miranda singled through the right side for CSU.
 
Dragon and Percell reached on back-to-back fielder's choices advancing all runners.
 
Miranda scored on a wild pitch giving the Eagles a 12-5 lead.
 
Then Crossman and White were walked in the next two at bats, scoring Dragon.
 
John Kraft knocked a double RBI single up the middle, bringing home Percell and Crossman as the Eagles claimed a 15-5 lead to end the inning.
 
FDU would score three runs in the top of the ninth inning as the Eagles held on for a 15-8 home victory.
 
Darien Percell led the Eagles tossing 4.0 innings while only surrendering two hits in his first pitching start of the season.
 
Desean Rabb led Coppin State with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
 
Coppin State will finish it's midweek clash against Fairleigh Dickinson as the two teams will play a single game on Wednesday, April 13 at Joe Cannon Stadium beginning at 3:00 p.m.