BALTIMORE- Senior outfielder John Kraft led Coppin State with four hits, three runs, two RBIs and a home run in a double header against Norfolk State Saturday, April 2 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore. The Eagles fell in both games to the Spartans 12-2 in game one and 6-3 in game two.
The Eagles scored two runs and racked up 10 hits in the first game of the double header.
The Spartans began the game by scoring one run on two hits.
Kraft led off with a double to right field to start the bottom of the first inning.
Freshman infielder Erik Crossman followed with a RBI double to left center, scoring Kraft and tying the game at 1-1.
Norfolk State responded with two run on two hits in the top of the second inning.
Freshman catcher Malik White singled to left field for Coppin State's first hit of the second inning.
Kraft singled down the first base line to close the inning for the Eagles.
Senior designated hitter Darien Percell got on the board with a single to the shortstop. It would be the Eagles only hit of the third inning.
Norfolk State exploded with six runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning to take a 9-1 lead.
Senior infielder Colin Dower bunted for a single and the Eagles sixth hit of the game.
The Spartans would push the lead to 11-1 in the top of the fifth inning after scoring two runs on two hits.
Kraft led off the fifth inning with a double through the right side for his third hit of the game.
Junior infielder Bryant Miranda followed with a RBI single to left field, scoring Kraft and cutting the Spartans lead down to 11-2.
Coppin State closed game one with two hits in the sixth inning, a single to left field by freshman infielder Jamar Criss and a single to third base for Malik White.
It was White's second hit of the game.
Norfolk State went on to score another run in the seventh inning and won game one 12-2.
Freshman Kystian Negron led the Eagles throwing 4.0 innings with four strikeouts.
In the final game of the double header John Kraft crushed his third home run of the season.
The Eagles scored three runs on two hits.
Erik Crossman walked to begin the bottom of the third inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Then John Kraft stepped to the plate a blasted a two RBI homer to left center giving Coppin State a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Norfolk State responded with one run on two hits in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Miranda reached base on a passed ball. Miranda moved to third after back-to-back walks by George Dragon and John O'Dwyer.
Crossman added the Eagles second hit with an RBI single to right field, scoring Miranda.
Coppin State took a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth inning.
But Norfolk State began to heat up and rattled off three runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning springing ahead 4-3.
The Spartans added on a pair of runs in the last inning and swept the Eagles 6-3.
Freshman pitcher Aaron Rea led the Eagles tossing 4.1 innings and tallying seven strikeouts.
Coppin State will finish its weekend series against Norfolk State with a single game on Sunday, April 3. The game will begin at noon at Joe Cannon Stadium in Baltimore.Â
