HANOVER, Md. – Jordan Hamberg struck out a season-high ten batters and
Mike Dorcean recorded a two-run home run in the eighth, but it was not enough as Coppin State's baseball team fell to Wagner, 4-2 in their series finale on Sunday afternoon at Joe Cannon Stadium. The Eagles fall to 3-12 on the year and 0-3 in the NEC while Seahawks improve to 8-6 with a 3-0 mark in league play.
The third game of the series featured a pitcher's duel between Hamberg and Wagner's Frankie Wright with all the runs coming in just two innings. Both teams went scoreless the first four innings with Hamberg punching out six Seahawks in those innings, including the side in the second and two in the third.
Wagner scored all its runs in the fifth with an RBI single following a pair of Hamberg strikeouts. After the go-ahead run, the Seahawks laid down a bunt single before a three-run home run by Dante Faicchio extended the lead to 4-0.
Hamberg froze the next hitter to get out of the inning, but Coppin went down in order in the bottom half of the frame, and a double play stalled a possible rally in the seventh after
Anthony Divittorio's pinch-hit single.
Nico Felber relieved Hamberg to start the seventh and struck out the first two hitters before allowing a single. He retired the side with a flyout, but once again CSU could not get anything going in its half of the inning.
Felber threw a 1-2-3 eighth with a pair of strikeouts and
Liam McCallum got the eighth started with a one-out single. Wagner removed Wright for a reliever, and Dorcean welcomed him rudely with a home run to left center on the very first pitch, cutting the deficit in half at 4-2.
The Seahawks got the next two hitters before Felber once again faced the minimum in the ninth, keeping the game in reach.
Hamberg drew a walk to start the ninth before a relief pitcher came in, and he retired the next three hitters for the save.
McCallum had two of Coppin's six hits with
Brett Curran,
Josh Hankins, Divittorio and Dorcean also connecting for hits.
Hamberg took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits with ten strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Felber fanned four batters in 3.0 innings of relief while allowing just one base hit
Coppin returns to action on Wednesday, March 15 when it travels to face Georgetown. First pitch from Washington Nationals Youth Academy is set for 3:00 pm.
