COLUMBIA, Md. – Coppin State's baseball team nearly overcame an eight-run deficit in a 11-7 loss to Cornell on Saturday afternoon at Blandair Park. The Eagles now stand at 2-7 on the season while the Big Red improve to 1-3.
Corey Miley and
Josh Hankins had two hits apiece with Miley scoring twice and driving in a run while Hankins drove in a pair of runs. Both middle infielders also drew walks on the day. Freshman
Eimir Perez had the big blast of the day, slugging a three-run homer in his lone plate appearance.
Darren Hagan and
Toran Smith also reached base safely twice, recording base hits while drawing a walk.
Jordan Hamberg did as well, recording a single and was also hit by a pitch.
The Eagles pitchers struck out 16 Cornell batters but nine walks and 15 base hits hurt the Navy & Gold.
Tyler Nichol received the loss as he allowed five runs in 5.1 innings while fanning seven.
Justin Johnson struck out six but gave up three runs over 2.2 innings before
Nico Felber struck out the side in the ninth, but not before giving up three runs.
Nichol faced the minimum in a dominant first inning on the mound as he struck out the first two batters, before allowing a walk. He then picked off the runner at first.
Cornell plated four runs on five hits with an error in the second but Nichol settled down to get through the next three innings scoreless. The Big Red got another run in the sixth before Johnson relieved Nichol and struck out the first two batters he faced.
Johnson struck out the side in the seventh but also gave up three runs as Cornell extended its lead to 8-0.
Hankins cut the deficit to 8-2 with a two-run single to center field in the seventh, scoring Miley and
Mike Dorcean on the play. The relief pitcher came in and retired the side before Johnson threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Coppin put a crooked five spot on the scoreboard in the eighth to pull within 8-7. Hagan drew a walk to start the frame before Hamberg was plunked by a pitch. Smith and Miley then recorded back-to-back RBI singles before Perez' three-run blast over the fence in left field. Hankins followed up with a single but was left stranded with Coppin trailing by just a run.
The Big Red got three runs across in the ninth and CSU was only able to get singles from Hamberg and
Landen Argabright in its final at-bat.
The nightcap, which will be resumed on Sunday, March 6 at 11 am, was halted in the top of the ninth inning with Cornell leading, 12-5 with a runner on first and two outs. Following the conclusion of the suspended game, the same two teams will play their regularly scheduled game.
