DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Coppin State baseball's historic season came to a heartbreaking end with an 8-3 10-inning loss to Bethune-Cookman in the Semifinals of the MEAC Tournament on Saturday night at Sliwa Stadium. The North Division Champion Eagles matched a program-record with a 21-23-1 overall mark to go with an 18-4 record in MEAC play which far surpassed their previous high of 13 conference wins.
"This season was a turning point for our baseball program as the guys really came of age," said head coach
Sherman Reed who became the school's all-time leader in wins with a victory at UMBC in the regular season finale. "It's not because of the many records that were broken, but the shift in mindset. From day one of the fall practice season, we knew that we had a very talented team. They trusted the programs and processes the coaches put in place and they never stopped believing in their abilities. With a great nucleus of returning players along with a spectacular 2018 recruiting class, the future is bright for Coppin State University Baseball."
Aside from its winningest season in 22 years, numerous records were turned in, especially on the pitching staff. The staff, headed by Second Team All-MEAC selection
Jahmon Taylor, recorded a 5.51 ERA and 274 strikeouts, both of which are new school-records.
"This pitching staff embodies the rapid growth and change for the better that Coppin State University is undergoing," said Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Matt Greely. "This group has taken total ownership of their development as student-athletes and their commitment to each other is uncommon. Additionally, three quarters of the pitching staff were named to the MEAC All-Academic Team.
Taylor finished the season with 81 strikeouts, two off the school's single-season record while
Corey Treyes matched a program-record with eight saves. Treyes already has ten saves in his young career which matches a school-record.
A five-run 10
th inning on allowed Bethune-Cookman to outlast the Eagles. Jameel Edney got the 10
th inning started with a single. Zach Spivey then reached on a bunt single. Adonis Lao gave the Wildcats a 4-3 lead with an RBI single, and Sterijevski followed a few batters later with a two-run single.
But the big blast came courtesy of Danny Rodriguez, the Preseason Player of the Year, who blasted a two-run home run – his eighth of the season – over the left field wall to give Bethune-Cookman an 8-3 lead.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10
th, but Ivan Coutinho struck out
Allen Saar to end the game.
Coppin State held a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth, but Nate Sterijevski walked and advanced to third on a Danny Rodriguez single to get things started. He then scored on a sac fly from Jordan Stacy, tying the game at 3-3.
The Eagles had their shot in the bottom of the frame, putting runners on the corners with two out before Coutinho got
Caleb Duhay to ground out to end the threat.
The game quickly became a pitchers' duel, with the Wildcats' Brady Norris and the Eagles'
Devin Rivera Ozuna trading scoreless frames until Bethune-Cookman finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning.
Jameel Edney, who had been key in the Wildcats' win earlier in the day over Florida A&M, singled home Jordan Stacy to give Bethune-Cookman a 1-0 lead.
However, the Wildcats left the bases loaded as Ozuna worked his way out of the jam.
The two teams continued trading scoreless innings until the top of the seventh. After Sterijevski doubled to left field, Rodriguez followed with a single up the middle that brought Sterijevski home and made it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
Bethune-Cookman threatened for more, but after a failed squeeze play and a fielder's choice, the Wildcats stranded two runners.
Coppin State responded in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases before
Andres Santana unloaded them with a bases-clearing double that gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead. Santana had half of Coppin's four hits on the game with three RBI while also stealing a base.
