ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Coppin State's baseball team got out to a quick 2-0 lead, but Navy scored seven unanswered runs to defeat the Eagles, 7-2 on Sunday afternoon at Max Bishop Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
Conner Walker got the scoring started in the top of the first with an RBI double down the left field line to score
Darren Hagan who was hit by a pitch and advanced to second as
Grant Williams drew a walk. Williams scored later in the inning as
Eddie Javier, Jr., beat out an infield single to shortstop, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Navy scored four runs on just two hits in its half of the first, two of which were unearned due to a fielding error.
The Eagles put a pair of runners on in the second as
Jordan Hamberg recorded his first of two hits on the day and Hagan drew a two-out walk but came up empty.
Starting pitcher
Aaron Rea tossed a scoreless second and got a 1-2-3 third inning with a pair of strikeouts to wrap up his day as
William Jackson took over on the mound to start the fourth. The Midshipmen got a pair of runs in the frame off Jackson to extend their lead to 6-2 but he settled down to retire the side and got through the fifth unscathed as well.
Coppin threatened in the sixth but left the bases loaded and Navy nearly made it pay in its half of the inning. The Mids put two in scoring position with one out, but Jackson got a foul out before
Nico Felber finished the inning with a strikeout.
The Eagles also left two runners on in the seventh and Navy put one across in the frame to round out the scoring for the day.
Hamberg was the lone Eagles player to have multiple hits as he went 2-for-5 with a double. Hagan reached safely three times on the day with a base hit and a walk while also being hit by a pitch. Walker also drew a walk along with his double.
Rea took the loss on the hill, allowing just two earned runs on three hits while striking out four in 3.0 innings. Jackson gave up two runs over 2.2 innings and Felber struck out three as he gave up a run over 1.1 innings.
John Neeld tossed a scoreless eighth inning and struck out one.
The same two teams will meet at Max Bishop Stadium for a 2 pm start on Wednesday, February 24. Coppin and Navy will also play on April 21 and April 28 in Annapolis.
