BALTIMORE, Md. - Madison Didion struck out 11 batters and got plenty of run support as Coppin State's softball team took the opener of a doubleheader with Howard, 7-3, on Friday night. The Eagles dropped the nightcap, 16-6 and now stand at 10-15 overall with a 7-4 mark in the MEAC.
Coppin got all of its runs in the first four innings, including a five spot in the third and that was more than Didion needed.
Cayla Brown singled home
Patricia Soria with a single to right center to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead after the first.
Didion retired the side in order in the second and a runner reached on an error in the third but she managed to get out unscathed.
Megan Narvaez started the big third inning with a single before Soria homered to left field to give CSU a 3-0 lead.
Nia Bowe then singled, advanced on a wild pitch and stole third before
Cloe' Ochoa was plunked and stole second.
Nicole Ullman drove both runners in with a double to left center to extend the lead to five.
Hatika James then singled and pinch runner
Camille Ochoa then scored on an error.
Didion struck out the side in the fourth and Brown extended the advantage to seven with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. Didion also struck out a pair in the fifth and sixth and also fanned the final batter of the game to seal the win.
Soria, Bowe and Brown all had two hits in the opener while Soria, Brown and Ullman each had a pair of RBI.
In game two, Howard got out to a quick 2-0 lead but an error helped Coppin cut the deficit to a run after the first. The Bison then erupted for seven innings in the second but once again CSU responded with three runs. Three straight walks prompted a pitching change and Soria drove in a run
Megan Brogden with a groundout. Bowe then singled home
Haley Bravo and the final run came on a double steal with Narvaez taking home as Bowe got to second.
Howard then scored four unanswered runs before Bowe homered in the fourth and Ullman drove in
Camille Ochoa with a single later in the frame. Both teams went scoreless the next two innings before the Bison tacked on three in the seventh.
Bowe had another three hits and two RBI in game two and Ullman added another two for the Eagles.
CSU will have nearly a week off until it travels to Drexel for a 2 pm doubleheader on April 12.
