ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Vanessa Carrizosa tossed a no-hitter while
Ashley Weimann and
Haley Bravo drove in three runs apiece as the Coppin State softball team blanked South Carolina State, 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at Orangeburg Recreation Park. The Eagles swept all three of their Southern Division rivals to improve to 4-7 in MEAC play and keeping their Tournament hopes alive.
A freshman from Moreno Valley, Calif., Carrizosa allowed just one walk while fanning a season-high nine batters. Carrizosa retired the first eight batters she faced before the Bulldogs reached on an error in the third, and again in the sixth. The lone South Carolina State player to reach safely came with two outs in the sixth before Carrizosa forced a double play.
The no-hitter was the first for a Coppin State pitcher since March 31, 2012 when
Paige Arnold threw one in a 5-0 win against Maryland Eastern Shore.
Weimann finished 2-for-2 with a pair of runs while recording a double and a triple while also delivering with a sacrifice hit. Bravo went a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, two doubles and a triple.
Isabella Zalba also had a pair of hits, including a triple and scored twice.
After a scoreless first, the Eagles got on the board with a pair of runs in the second as Weimann doubled to right field, easily scoring Zalba who tripled down the line to start the inning. Weimann then scored as her and Bravo traded places with a double down the left field line.
Carrizosa helped her own cause with a one-out single in the third before scoring along with Zalba on Weimann's triple to center field. Once again, Weimann scored on a double by Bravo, increasing the advantage to 6-0.
The Eagles put the game away in the sixth with a pair of runs as Bravo started the inning with a leadoff triple. Following a single by
Shawnee Ronyak,
Maren Bernal drove in Bravo with a single and Ronyak also scored on the play to put the mercy rule into effect.
Coppin is set to host Howard on April 26 and 28 in a pair of 1 pm doubleheaders. The Eagles will also host Morgan State in a four-game series on May 1-2.
