COLUMBIA, Md. – Tyler Nichol struck out eight in 4.2 innings without allowing an earned in the second game of a doubleheader, but Coppin State's baseball team dropped a pair against Saint Peter's on Saturday afternoon at Blandair Park. The Eagles fall to 1-6 on the season as they were edged in the opener, 4-3, before dropping the nightcap, 9-2.
A sophomore from Belle Chase, La., Nichol was dominant in his second start of the season in game two, fanning a pair of batters in each of the first two innings, another in both the third and fourth and two more in the fifth.
Nichol received some bad luck in fifth as he recorded a strikeout, which would've been the third out, but the ball got by the catcher, allowing the runner from third to score. The throw back to the pitcher allowed another was wild which scored another run.
The next batter doubled home another run and Nichol was relieved by
Sam Batis who allowed an inherited runner to score before getting a groundout to keep Coppin in the game at 4-1.
Coppin had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI groundout by
Sebastien Sarabia, plating
Wellington Balsley who started the game with a single and got to third on a wild pitch and
Marcos Castillo single.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the fifth as Castillo recorded a one-out single before walks issued to
Jordan Hamberg and Sarabia. Saint Peter's then made a pitching change and got a groundball to escape.
Saint Peter's capitalized with five runs on just two hits in the sixth. Castillo led off the seventh with a home run down the left field line but Coppin could not overcome the deficit.
Luke Baker allowed a pair of runs in his lone inning of work and
Matt Perkins tossed a 1-2-3 seventh along with a strikeout. Castillo had three of CSU's seven hits in game two while Sarabia and
Darren Hagan reached twice safely with a hit and a walk each.
In game one, Saint Peter's scored two runs in the first off starting pitcher
Tim Ruffino but he settled down, facing just two more than the minimum over the next four innings. The Eagles helped their southpaw with a pair of runs in the fourth on RBI doubles from Hamberg and
Mike Dorcean.
After Ruffino tossed a 1-2-3 fifth, Coppin took the lead as
Brian Nicholas delivered a pinch-hit triple and scored as the throw to third was wild.
The Peacocks, however, scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth and Coppin was unable to tie get any more runs across. Ruffino took the loss, allowing just two runs on six hits over 5.1 innings.
John Neeld allowed just one hit and fanned three over the final 1.2 innings.
Coppin and Saint Peter's wrap up their four-game series at 12 pm on Sunday, February 27 at Blandair Park.
