HANOVER, Md. – Brilliant pitching performances from
Tim Ruffino and
Justin Johnson helped Coppin State's baseball team defeat Norfolk State, 3-2, in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Joe Cannon Stadium. The Spartans won game one, 8-7, but with the split, the Eagles remain atop the MEAC standings with an 8-6 record in conference play.
After allowing a leadoff double to start the game, Ruffino allowed just one other base hit over the first four innings of the game to earn the victory. Ruffino (4-2) retired the next 11 batters he faced before giving up a single, but he retired the final batter of the fourth to end his day where he struck out four.
Johnson threw the final three innings to record his third save of the season as he gave up just one earned run on one hit while striking out six. The freshman from Easton, Pa., struck out the side in his first inning of work before allowing a run in the sixth while striking out two. A couple of errors allowed the Spartans to pull within a run, but Johnson froze the final batter to seal the victory.
Coppin was also head in check over the first few innings before it threatened in the third with a pair of hit batsman. The Eagles came up empty in the frame but got a sacrifice fly from
Corey Miley in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Scoring on the fly ball was
Jordan Hamberg who doubled to start the inning before getting to third on
Sebastien Sarabia's sacrifice bunt.
CSU added a pair of runs in the fifth on an RBI groundout from
Josh Hankins before
Wellington Balsley scored on a throwing error by the catch, attempting to pick him off at third. The Eagles nearly blew the game open in the sixth, but left the bases loaded after drawing four walks in the inning.
Hamberg had two of Coppin's three hits in game two with
Eimir Perez recording the other. The Eagles drew seven walks in the nightcap with
Marcos Castillo and
Toran Smith reaching base twice via base on balls.
Norfolk was spotted five runs in the first inning of game one but starting pitcher
Tyler Nichol settled down to retire 13 of the next 15 batters. The Eagles got all five of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth with Balsley recording a two-run single to right field and an RBI double by Sarabia. A wild pitch and a throwing error by the catcher on Balsley's steal of third base scored another.
The Spartans scored two runs in the sixth before
John Neeld came in and retired the first three batters of the sixth. Coppin went down in order in the bottom half before Neeld threw a 1-2-3 seventh to keep it a 7-5 game.
Balsley led off the bottom of the seventh with a single before Hankins reached on a fielder's choice. Down to the final out, Sarabia took relief pitcher Justin Walton deep to opposite field to tie the score at seven.
NSU got a leadoff homer in the eighth before Neeld retired the next three batters but Coppin left the bases loaded in the eighth.
Balsley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk in the opener while Sarabia also collected a pair of hits with three RBI. Hankins scored twice while
Tyler Lloyd reached base twice with two walks.
Nichol struck out seven in his 5.0 innings of work in the no-decision. Neeld received the loss despite allowing just one run on one hit with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings.
Coppin will host Norfolk State in a 12 pm doubleheader on Sunday, April 10, starting at 12 pm.
