BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Victor Alongi and
Braylon Watson had three hits apiece and
Damon Gaither homered while driving in four runs as Coppin State's baseball team fell 14-9 on Wednesday afternoon at Walker Field. The Eagles are now 3-7 on the season.
Alongi went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Watson went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI but Gaither was the only CSU player with an extra-base hit, going 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and a walk.
Sam Nieves, the reigning NEC Player of the Week, added the other hit for the Eagles.
Brandon Stephens got the start on the mound for Coppin and was its most productive, allowing just one run in 3.0 innings while striking out five. He did walk six batters, however, as Eagles pitchers allowed 20 Mountain Hawks to reach base via balls.
Jaedin Hurd and
Giovanni Canales each threw an inning, giving up a combined eight runs, followed by
Jackson Montgomery who took the loss after allowing three runs in 2.0 innings.
Clay Thompson threw the final inning and allowed two runs.
Lehigh took a 1-0 lead after the first but was matched by Coppin in the third on a sacrifice fly by
Kai Holm. Brody Black scored on the drive to centerfield after drawing a walk, stealing second and getting to third on a single by Watson.
The Mountain Hawks retook the lead with a run in the fourth, but Coppin took its first lead of the game with two runs in the fifth. Gaither tied the score at 2-2 with a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch allowed
Anthony Divittorio to score from third.
Seven Mountain Hawks scored in their half of the inning, giving the hosts a 9-3 lead.
The Navy & Gold once again battled back, tying the score with a six-run sixth thanks to four hits, including a two-run home run by Gaither which cut the deficit to 9-7.
Chris Marte then drew a walk, followed by a single by Nieves which put the tying run on base. After a pitching change, Alongi singled home Marte, and after a walk and wild pitch,
Bryce Thompson was plunked which tied the score.
Lehigh retook the lead with three runs in the sixth, but Coppin only mustered a pair of hits over the final three innings.
The Eagles will travel to Wagner College for a three-game NEC series on March 15-17. Friday's game starts at 3 pm, followed by a 1 pm start on Saturday and 12 pm on Sunday.
