COLUMBIA, Md. – Freshmen
Josh Hankins became the second Coppin State baseball player in as many games to record a school-record five hits as the Eagles defeated Albany, 17-10 in game one of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Blandair Park. CSU fell in the nightcap, 15-3.
A shortstop from Boothwyn, Pa., Hankins went 5-for-6 while recording a double and a season-high four runs while scoring twice. Hankins also went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in game two while scoring a run and driving in another.
Fellow freshman
Eimir Perez also had a big game, going 2-for-2 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Perez also drew a walk and recorded a sacrifice hit.
Wellington Balsley,
Corey Miley and
Marcos Castillo all had three-hit efforts and combined for eight runs while
Mike Dorcean had two hits, two RBI and a pair of walks.
Tim Ruffino got the win in relief, allowing just two runs on four hits over the final 4.0 innings.
Tyler Nichol started on the mound and gave up just two earned runs over the first 3.2 innings.
Marcos Herrand was credited with just one earned run in 1.1 innings.
Coppin's bats started out hot with eight runs in the first two innings.
Brian Nicolas, Perez and Hankins all had RBI in the first as the Eagles took a 3-0 lead after one. In the second, CSU scored five times on four hits with Castillo starting the scoring with a two-run double, followed by a triple from Miley and a two-run double by Perez.
Albany got back in the game with six runs in the fourth, scoring twice before a fielding error with two outs extended the inning.
An RBI single from Hankins in the fourth put CSU back on top, 9-6 before Albany cut the deficit to a single run with two runs in the fifth.
The Eagles got some much-needed insurance with four runs in the fifth as
Landen Argabright and Perez were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Hankins then singled up the middle to score both Nicolas and Argabright.
The score remained 13-8 before Albany scored a run in the seventh, but
Bruce Hilton broke the game open with a two-run double in the bottom half of the frame. Scoring on the play was Perez and Hankins and the duo scored once again in the eighth on a single by Dorcean.
Albany struck early and often in game two with two runs in the first and five runs in the second to take a 7-0 lead. The Great Danes extended their lead with three runs in the third before Miley singled home a run in the bottom half of the inning to score Castillo.
The Eagles scored two more in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Hankins and Hilton.
Giovanni Canales took the loss in game two before
Justin Johnson did not allow an earned run in his 4.1 innings of work while striking out five.
Rashad Ruff gave up one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work, fanning a Great Dane for each of his outs.
The Eagles are set to play at George Mason on Wednesday, March 15 at 3 pm in their final game before hosting Delaware State in a MEAC-opening four-game series on March 18-20.
