BALTIMORE – Coppin State's softball team got solid pitching from its staff as the Eagles swept a doubleheader against South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at CSU Softball Complex. With the two victories, the Eagles secured its place in the MEAC Tournament, which is set for May 11-14 in Norfolk, Va.
Vanessa Carrizosa was dominant in her outing in game one, which Coppin won, 7-2. In 5.0 innings, Carrizosa did not allow a run and struck out eight while giving up just four hits. Carrizosa also helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Both of
Brissa Alvarado's hits went for extra bases as she went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple to go with three RBI and a walk.
Isabella Zalba also had a pair of hits while leadoff hitter
Alexis Genovese scored three runs.
The Eagles led from start to finish in the opener, scoring two runs in the first inning after Carrizosa struck out a pair in the top half. Genovese started the inning with a walk before scoring on Carrizosa's triple. Alvarado followed with a sacrifice fly to score Carrizosa.
Another three CSU runs came across in the second, starting with an RBI groundout from
Jaslyn Sanchez to score
Avianna Peterson who doubled earlier. Carrizosa and Alvarado once again added RBI in the inning to drive in Genovese and
Lynn Porter, respectively.
Carrizosa went on to retire seven-straight batters as both teams went scoreless until the sixth inning when the Bulldogs got a run across. The Eagles answered that run with two in their half of the frame.
Cristina Lopez started it off with a double and scored on a single from Genovese, who scored on Alvarado's double to the gap in left center.
South Carolina State tacked on a run in the seventh off
Maren Bernal before
Kayleigh Reome forced a lineout for a double play to finish the game.
Shawnee Ronyak got the victory in the nightcap as she went 4.2 innings and gave up just one run on five hits while striking out four. Reome earned the save as she fanned four over the final 2.1 innings.
Offensively, Peterson and
Savannah Howze had two hits apiece while Howze drove in three runs. Alvarado also drew a pair of walks while
Melanie Aguilera went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk.
The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead which was short lived as CSU scored four runs in the second which came on one at-bat. Following walks issued to Zalba and Peterson which sandwiched a single from Aguilera to load the bases, Howze lined a shot to right field for a single. The ball got away from the right fielders and allowed even Howze to score.
The score remained at 4-1 until Howze recorded another RBI in the sixth with a double to the gap in left center to score Aguilera.
Reome allowed a pair of runs in the seventh but struck out the side to pick up the save.
The Eagles will conclude the regular season when they host South Carolina State in a 12 pm start on Sunday, May 1. Prior to the game, Coppin will honor seniors:
Melanie Aguilera, Maren Bernal, Desiree Carrizosa, Alexis Genovese, Lynn Porter, Kayleigh Reome and
Isabella Zalba.
