NORFOLK, Va. – Melanie Aguilera drove in a pair of runs and
Avianna Peterson had a pair of hits as Coppin State's softball team rallied to defeat fifth-seeded North Carolina Central, 5-3 on a rainy Thursday afternoon at the MEAC Tournament. With the victory, CSU will take on the winner of the Maryland Eastern Shore/Norfolk State matchup on Friday, May 13 at 12 pm.
The win was Coppin's first in the MEAC Tournament since May 8, 2014, when it defeated Savannah State, 2-1.
After two scoreless innings, North Carolina Central took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third. Aguilera cut the deficit in half with an RBI single in the fourth to drive in Peterson who had walked and got into scoring position on a wild pitch. Following a pair of wild pitches and a walk issued to
Shawnee Ronyak,
Jaslyn Sanchez reached on a throwing error which allowed both Aguilera and Ronyak to scoring, giving Coppin its first lead of the game.
Vanessa Carrizosa faced the minimum in the bottom of the fourth, getting out of the inning by forcing a 4-6-3 double play. It was the second double play turned by the Navy & Gold during the game with the first coming to end the second inning.
Coppin plated another two runs in the fifth, with the first coming as Peterson reached on an error on a bunt attempt. The miscue allowed
Alexis Genovese to score from second after she singled to lead off the inning. Aguilera then drove in
Isabella Zalba with an RBI groundout to third.
CSU had an opportunity to blow the game wide open in the sixth, but a near hour rain delay stopped the game. Immediately after the delay, Carrizosa reached on another NCCU error to load the bases but the next two Coppin players were retired.
Carrizosa got another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and Central was only able to muster a sacrifice fly in the seventh, pulling within 5-3. The final out came as Carrizosa fielded her own position on a groundball.
A sophomore from Moreno Valley, Calif., Carrizosa tossed all seven innings, allowing just three runs on five hits.
Brissa Alvarado was moved up in the order to the leadoff spot and drew three walks to increase her single season record for free passes to 34 on the season.
