ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Coppin State's
Jordan Hamberg and
Landen Argabright both hit grand slams and added doubles in a 15-9 victory over Navy on Wednesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Eagles have now won back-to-back games against the Midshipmen for the first time since sweeping them during the 2013 season.
A sophomore from South Plainfield, N.J., Hamberg finished 3-for-4 with three runs and five RBI to go with a home run, double, a walk, and a stolen base. Making his first collegiate start, Argabright went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored while recording a home run and a double.
Sebastien Sarabia also drove in three runs while
Wellington Balsley and
Marcos Castillo both scored twice. Castillo and Balsley also drew walks on the day.
The Eagles threw six pitchers in a scheduled bullpen day with
Justin Johnson getting credit for the victory in his second career appearance. Johnson allowed three runs on three hits in 2.0 innings in relief of
Matt Perkins who gave up four runs over the first 1.1 innings.
Following Johnson was
Sam Batis (2.0 IP, two runs),
Johan Freudenburg (1.2 IP, no runs),
John Neeld (1.1 IP, no runs) and
Rashad Ruff (0.2 IP, no runs).
Coppin erupted for six runs in the first inning with Argabright having the big hit, a two-out grand slam which scored
Brian Nicolas,
Toran Smith and
Tyler Lloyd. Earlier in the inning, Castillo doubled down the left field line and scored on Hamberg's double. Hamberg later scored on a groundout by Sarabia.
Navy got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning and took a 7-6 lead with five runs in the second as only Hamberg reached base for the Eagles in the top of the frame.
Both teams went down in order in the third before CSU put another crooked number on the board with four runs in the fourth. Argabright led off the inning with a double, and after
Josh Hankins reached on an error, Balsley laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Argabright scored on a groundout by Castillo before Sarabia singled through the left side to score both Hankins and Balsley. Hamberg then scored on a wild pitch, giving Coppin a 10-7 lead.
Batis retired both batters he faced to get out of the fourth and got a 1-2-3 fifth inning before Navy scored twice in the sixth off him in the sixth to cut the deficit to a single run. Freudenburg later forced a double play to get out of the inning.
The Eagles put the game out of reach with another five runs in the seventh with Hamberg's grand slam before Sarabia reached on an error and scored on the play.
Freudenburg pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Neeld got all three batters he faced out in the eighth. Ruff finished off the Midshipmen with a pair of groundouts.
The Eagles are set to host Saint Peter's in a four-game series on Feb. 25-27 at Blandair Park in Columbia, Md. Friday's game is set for 2 pm, followed by an 11 am doubleheader on Saturday and a 12 pm single game on Sunday.
