Harry Williams broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the eighth inning to help Coppin State snap their thirty game losing streak with an 8-5 victory over the Virginia Military Institute at Gray-Minor Stadium Tuesday night.

Catcher Oscar Santalo hit two solo home runs and Carlos Russell pitched his first career complete game to lead the Eagles, who improved to 3-40 on the season. The Keydets, who are currently second in the Big South conference, fell to 20-20 overall.

VMI scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game and set the stage for Williams’ heroics. Sean Yampierre led off the eighth inning with a single to center field and was replaced by pinch runner Brandon Alexander. Jerry Matos sacrificed Alexander to second with a bunt to the catcher. After Archie Scott struck out, Williams worked a 2-0 count before hitting his fifth home run of the year, vaulting the Eagles back into the lead at 5-3.

The Eagles added three insurance runs in the ninth inning, which ended up being the winning runs after VMI scored twice in the ninth. Santalo led off the ninth with his second home run of the day. Roman Batista drew a one out walk and came around to score on a double down the left field line by Jonathan Reynolds. After a pitching change, Reynolds moved up to third and scored on back-to-back wild pitches.

Coppin State was being no-hit and trailing 1-0 through four innings before breaking through in the fifth inning. Leading off the inning, Santalo turned on a 2-2 pitch and blasted his third home run of the season and second of the game, over the left field fence to tie the game at one.

Angel Recci followed with a single through the left side and came around to score on Batista’s fifth double of the year, with Batista moving up to third on the play at the plate.

After a Reynolds strike out, Yampierre drove in Batista with a sacrifice fly to center field, staking the Eagles and starting pitcher Russell to a 3-1 lead.

Russell, a freshman from Miami, gave the Eagles their best performance from a starting pitcher this season. Over nine innings of work, he allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits, walking two and striking out three on 131 pitches to pick up his first career win.

Justin Hess had three hits, all doubles, and Brian Sandridge had two hits to lead the Keydets.

The two teams will meet for a second straight day on Wednesday (April 23) at 4 p.m. at Grey-Minor field.