BALTIMORE, Md. – Coppin State baseball went on the road and defeated UMBC 10-4 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, April 12
th at Alumni Field. Coppin State last defeated UMBC on May 4, 2004 (6-3) ending a ten game losing streak to the Retrievers while notching their second win in the all-time series of 45 games played.
CSU moves to 7-20 on the season and UMBC drops to 9-15 overall record.
The Eagles sophomore pitcher
Devin Rivera Ozuna (1-1) won his first game of his career tossing 5.0 innings striking out one batter and walking none. Relief pitcher freshman
Joshua Hancock went 3.1 innings also striking out one. Freshman closer
Corey Treyes also had a strikeout.
Junior
Caleb Duhay recorded his third RBI of the season scoring freshman
Allen Saar to give Coppin State a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Saar led off reaching on an error, then moved to second on a walk by junior
Andres Santana. Both runners stole second and third base as the Eagles got off to a productive start.
Freshman
Cole Gerula drew a walk to lead off the third inning and then moved to second after Saar was hit by a pitch. Sophomore
Nazier McIlwain loaded the bases after drawing CSU's second walk of the inning. With one out and runners in scoring position, Duhay had his second RBI hitting a sacrifice fly ball to left field scoring Gerula (2-0).
The Retrievers cut into the Eagles advantage with one run on one hit in the bottom of the fourth inning (2-1). Coppin State responded with three runs in the next inning expanding their lead to 5-1.
Gerula doubled down the left field line leading off CSU's fifth inning. Santana knocked in his seventh RBI of the year singling to left center field bringing in Gerula for the first run. McIlwain was walked and then sophomore
Jamar Criss singled through the right side for two RBI scoring both McIlwain and Santana.
In the sixth inning the Eagles stretched their lead to 8-2 with one hit and an error on the UMBC defense. Gerula walked then went to second on a balk. The next batter Saar was walked and then Santana reached on a fielding error. Santana stole second base but Saar stole home in exciting fashion. Duhay singled through the left side and then Criss RBI sacrifice fly out to left field scoring Santana for an 8-2 lead.
Two additional runs were added on in the ninth inning on one hit and fielding error. Criss drew a walk and was moved to second by senior
Bryant Miranda who singled through the right side. On the next play, both runners scored on poor decision making by UMBC. Criss advanced to third on a throwing error scoring and then Miranda advanced to second on a passed ball and ended up scoring also.
Five hits were recorded by the Eagles.
Andres Santana,
Caleb Duhay,
Jamar Criss,
Bryant Miranda and
Cole Gerula each had a hit. Criss had three RBI, Duhay had a season-best two RBI and Santana had one. Gerula scored a season-high three runs while both Santana and
Allen Saar each scored twice. Saar finished with a season-high three stolen bases and Santana stole a pair. The Eagles ties a season-high drawing nine total walks and defensively turned two double plays.
The Eagles will host MEAC rival Delaware State University this weekend in a three game series. The teams will play a single game on Friday, April 14
th at 3pm and then a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m.
