DOVER, Del. – Coppin State's baseball team swept a pair of high-scoring games at Delaware State, defeating the Hornets, 13-12, in game one, and 13-11 in the nightcap on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field. The victories keep the Eagles' MEAC Tournament hopes alive as they stand at 6-16 in league play while the Hornets now stand at 11-11 with nine games to play.
Darren Hagan and
Toran Smith both had three hits and scored twice in game one while
Mike Dorcean and
Grant Williams each had two base knocks, with Dorcean driving in a team-high three runs and drawing a pair of walks. Williams and
Eddie Javier, Jr., also had a pair of RBIs.
Jordan Hamberg allowed just three earned runs over 3.2 innings in the start but got the no-decision.
Aaron Rea was credited with the win in relief as he gave up seven runs over the final 3.1 innings while striking out four.
Coppin never trailed in the opener, getting out to an early 4-0 lead on RBIs from Smith, Dorcean and Williams. The Hornets were able to get two of the runs back in their half of the first, but Dorcean delivered in the second with a two-run single, followed by another RBI single by Williams to give Coppin a 7-2 lead.
Hamberg tossed a scoreless second, the only inning that DSU did not score a run, but CSU was unable to take advantage in the third.
The Hornets pulled to within 7-5 after the fourth as Rea relived Hamberg to strike out the final batter of the inning. Coppin rallied behind their redshirt senior pitcher and scored three runs in the fifth with a pair of runs coming home on a single by Hagan, followed by
Sebastien Sarabia's sacrifice fly.
Once again, the Hornets came back with two runs in the fifth, but Javier extended CSU's lead back to five runs at 12-7 with a two-run single in the sixth, following
Mario Cuevas' double to right center.
DSU added another run in the sixth, as did Coppin in the seventh, and the hosts rallied for four runs in the final inning but came up just short.
In the nightcap, Coppin rallied for a 4-1 deficit with seven runs in the third inning with RBI from Sarabia, Smith, Williams and Hamberg, followed by a three-run double by Javier to give the Eagles an 8-4 lead.
DSU got a run back in its half of the third, but Coppin added two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to go on top 12-5. Williams and
Matt Day each had RBI singles in the fourth, before Hagan led off the fifth with a home run. Day also drew a bases loaded walk in the frame.
After another Hornet score in the fifth, both teams went scoreless in the sixth before Day singled home another run in the seventh.
Trailing, 13-6 entering the final inning, Delaware State scored three runs off starting pitcher
Tyler Nichol who was relieved by
Nico Felber. Both of Felber's batters recorded hits and
Luke Baker closed the door with a strikeout and a lineout to get the save.
Javier and Day both had two hits and three RBI in game two as Day also drew three walks to lead CSU at the plate.
Nichol was credited with the win as he struck out three in 6.1 innings.
The Eagles and Hornets face off at 12 pm on Sunday, May 2 in a pivotal matchup for Coppin.
