ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Coppin State's softball team overcame a pair of five-run deficits to defeat North Carolina A&T and N.C. Central on Saturday afternoon at the MEAC Roundup held at Orangeburg Recreational Park. The Eagles defeated the Aggies, 9-8, in their opener before defeating NCCU, 10-6.
Nia Bowe and
Isabella Zalba combined for seven RBI in Coppin's victory over the North Carolina A&T, both collecting triples doubles while Zalba leading the way by driving in four.
Ashley Weimann also had a pair of hits from the fifth spot the lineup while leadoff hitter
Brissa Alvarado added a base knock and drew a pair of walks.
North Carolina A&T took an early 2-0 lead in its half of the first, but the Eagles retaliated with three runs in their half which came via a two-run triple from Bowe before Zalba drover her in with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Aggies then scored eight unanswered runs to take an 8-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth before Coppin got back on the board with an RBI single by
Sydney Dombrowski.
Vanessa Carrizosa, who scored two runs in the game, went back onto the rubber midway through the sixth and retired the side before coming up big with a scoreless seventh.
Trailing, 8-4, going into their final at bat, Coppin rallied for five runs on four hits to pick up the victory.
Shawnee Ronyak and Alvarado started it off with back-to-back one-out hits before Carrizosa drew a walk to load the bases. Bowe then singled to left to score Ronyak before Zalba's bases-clearing triple to right field allowed CSU to celebrate the win.
Carrizosa was credited with her first career win as she allowed four runs on five hits while striking out three over 6.0 innings of work.
NC Central put up five runs over the first two innings off Alvarado to take an early, 5-0 advantage, but Coppin fought right back with four runs in the third. Base knocks from
Kayleigh Reome and Carrizosa started the rally, and following a walk, a wild pitch allowed Carrizosa to score CSU's first run of the game. Weimann then delivered with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot over the fence in left center to make it a 5-4 game.
Reome tossed a scoreless third to keep it a one-run deficit and Carrizosa tied it up in the fourth with an RBI single to right center, scoring Ronyak from third after she had led off the frame with a walk.
Coppin held NCCU in check in the bottom half of the inning as Reome forced an inning-ending double play, and
Haley Bravo made them pay with a go-ahead single up the middle, scoring Weimann from second.
CSU continued to pour it on in the sixth as Bowe delivered with an RBI double. A wild pitch allowed Carrizosa to score and give the Navy & Gold an 8-5 lead. Zalba then sealed it with a two-run home run down the left field line, giving Coppin a 10-5 lead.
NC Central was able to score a run in the sixth but went scoreless in the seventh as Coppin defeated their second Southern Division opponent of the day.
Carrizosa was the lone Eagles player with a pair of hits while also drawing a walk. Her, Bowe, Zalba and Weimann all scored two runs each while Weimann drove in three runs.
Reome allowed just one run over 3.2 innings of relief to pick up the victory while
Maren Bernal was credited with a save, allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings. Reome helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a run and a walk while adding a sacrifice hit.
CSU concludes the Roundup when it faces South Carolina State at 12:30 pm on Sunday, April 18. The Eagles will then close out the regular season with eight-straight home games, hosting Howard on April 26 and 28. Coppin will also welcome Morgan State for four games on May 1-2.
