Maryland Eastern Shore recorded innings of seven, five and 10 runs, respectively, on its way to a 25-11 victory and series sweep of Coppin State in seven innings at Hawks Stadium Sunday.
Nine UMES players registered at least one hit and seven had multiple-hit outings as the Hawks improved to 5-17 on the season and 3-0 in MEAC play. Coppin State, who battled its way back into the game with six runs in the fifth inning after spotting the hosts a 10-2 advantage by the bottom of the fourth, fell to 0-11 and 0-3 in the conference.
Senior Jorge Pichardo propelled the UMES offense on the day, going 4-for-4 with two runs and five RBIs. The right fielder had a double, triple and a stolen base. Pat Hercinger had three hits including a double and RBI to go along with five run scored. Elliott Alston finished 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs, while Josh Dunham, Russel Deutschmann, Bryan Chaikowsky and Remo Orsini had two hits apiece.
Freshman right-hander Karim Gonzalez picked up his first collegiate win on the mound for the Hawks. He went four innings, allowed four hits, two walks and two runs. Jonathan Reynolds (0-3) went five innings, surrendering 14 hits and 15 runs to take the loss.
UMES held a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Phil Vaughn led the game off with a triple and came around to score on a Dunham groundout. Chaikowsky followed with a single up the middle, scoring Hercinger.
UMES added seven more in the second; including two on an RBI double to right-center field by Dunham, plating Vaughn and Pichardo. Runs from Dunham, Hercinger, Deutschmann, Alston and Chaikowsky in the inning pushed the Hawks' advantage to 9-0.
Coppin State cut into the UMES lead with a pair of runs in the third off of Gonzalez. Lonnel Bush got the Eagles on the board with an RBI triple to right center, scoring Chris Caudillo with no outs and Harry Williams followed with a base hit through the left side of the infield to bring home Bush.
With the Hawks up 10-2 in the fifth, CSU tallied six runs off of relievers Carl Huber and Jervonta' Wright. Huber walked the bases loaded before giving way to Wright who didn't fare much better.
Wright walked Kallen Fletcher to make it 10-3 and Reynolds helped his own cause with a fielder's choice and RBI. Mikhail Avent knocked a one-out RBI double into left, scoring Williams to cut the lead in half at 10-5. After a Francisco Rosado sacrifice fly closed the gap to 10-6, Avent stole home and Caudillo added an RBI single through the left side, which brought Josue Martinez around.
The Hawks responded with 15 runs over the fifth and sixth innings erase any doubt and ensure the game would be halted after seven due to the conference-mandated 10-run rule.
UMES hosts Mount Saint Mary's in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday, starting at noon.