Eagles Erupt With Season Best 17 Hits in Win Over Norfolk State

BALTIMORE- The Coppin State baseball team registered a season-best 17 hits in a 11-7 victory over Norfolk State University in the final game of the weekend series on Sunday, April 3 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore.

Freshman catcher John O'Dwyer and senior infielder Colin Dower both tallied four hits and two runs apiece for the Eagles.

The Spartans scored two runs on one hit in the opening inning of play.

Coppin State responded with three two runs of their own on one hit.

Senior outfielder John Kraft led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left field.

Colin Dower singled up the right field line for his first hit of the game and advanced Kraft to third base.

Freshman infielder Jamar Criss pushed an RBI single up the middle, bringing home Kraft for the Eagles first run of the game.

Junior infielder Bryant Miranda reached on a RBI fielder's choice, scoring Dower and tying the game at 2-2 to end the first inning.

Coppin State erupted with five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning.

Senior designated hitter Darien Percell and John O'Dwyer recorded back-to-back singles up the middle to begin the inning for the Eagles.

Freshman outfielder Andrew O'Dwyer placed an RBI double through the right side, scoring Percell, giving Coppin State a 3-2 lead.

Colin Dower hit an RBI single up the middle for his second hit bringing home J. O'Dwyer.

Jamar Criss recorded his second hit of the game with an RBI double to center field scoring A. O'Dwyer.

Bryant Miranda racked up his third RBI of the day with a double down the left field line scoring Dower and Criss.

The Eagles would end the second inning leading Norfolk State 7-2.

Coppin State exploded for four more runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning.

Freshman infielder Erik Crossman was walked to lead off the inning and John O'Dwyer followed with a single to the shortstop for his second hit of the game.

Both Crossman and J. O'Dwyer advanced on a passed ball.

On the next at bat, Andrew O'Dwyer crushed a two-run RBI triple to center field, scoring Crossman and John O'Dwyer. 

Then John Kraft stepped to the plate and cracked a two-run home run blast over the center field fence bringing home A. O'Dwyer.

It was Kraft's fourth home run of the season and second in two games.

Colin Dower would close the inning with a single bunt for his third hit of the day.

Coppin State led 11-2 after the third inning.

John O'Dwyer singled up the middle for the Eagles only hit of the fourth inning and his third hit of the game.

Colin Dower picked up his fourth hit in the fifth inning with a single to the shortstop.

Norfolk State scored one run on two hits in the sixth inning to close the Eagles lead to 11-3.

John O'Dwyer recorded Coppin State's last hit of the day with a single to third base in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Spartans would put forth a solid comeback effort scoring three runs on one hit in the seventh inning and one run on two hits in the eighth inning.

But Coppin State would hold on for the 11-7 home victory.

Devin Sutorius was issued the win after leading the Eagles tossing 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and retiring two Spartan batters.

Next, Coppin State will head on the road for a game against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on Wednesday, April 6 at Legacy Park in Bethlehem, PA.