SALISBURY, Md. – Coppin State scored a season-high 12 runs in a game one victory at Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Perdue Stadium. In the nightcap, the Eagles dropped a 1-0 decision.
Erik Crossman,
Derek Lohr and
Corey Treyes were the key bats for Coppin in the opener as the trio combined 8-for-10 with six runs and six RBIs. Lohr went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored, Crossman drove in three runs while going 3-for-4 with three runs scored while Treyes drove in three runs as well.
The Hawks got ahead early with a run in the first but Treyes tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the second to score Crossman who singled earlier in the frame. Crossman got to third following a single by Lohr and a walk issued to
Brett Helmbrecht.
Eastern Shore retook the lead with a run in the third before Treyes once again tied the score in the fourth, this time with an RBI single to drive in Lohr.
The Eagles then erupted for five runs in the fifth on three hits and a UMES error.
Caleb Duhay led off the frame by reaching on an error and reached second on a groundout. Crossman then drove in Duhay with a single before Lohr's single prompted a pitching change. Helmbrecht drew a walk to load the bases and Treyes did the same to give Coppin a 4-2 lead. A wild pitch extended the lead to three runs before
Andres Santana broke it open with a two-run single, scoring both Helmbrecht and Treyes.
Coppin did not slow down, going for another four runs in the sixth, all off another reliever. A pair of balks helped
Allen Saar score following his single to start the inning. Crossman then drove in Duhay and
Marcos Castillo with a single and the final run of the sixth came on a sac fly by Helmbrecht.
Nazier McIlwain singled in the seventh to drive in Santana for the final run of the game.
Not to be lost in the game one dominance was a brilliant pitching performance by
Branden Redfern. Redfern picked up his first win of the year, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four in the complete game.
In the nightcap,
Jahmon Taylor took the loss for Coppin despite allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six. The only run of the game came in the first inning on a groundout.
The rubber game of the three-game series will start at 12 pm on Sunday, March 18.
