Coppin State Sweeps Two From UMES
BALTIMORE -- Sophomore David Hamlett went 5-for-7 and drove in three runs leading Coppin State to a MEAC doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday at Joe Cannon Stadium.
The Eagles won game one 7-3 and completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the second game.
Hamlett went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI in the first game and was 1-for-2 with two RBI in game two.
Coppin State (8-19, 5-6 MEAC) banged out 14 hits in game one and Myles Taylor and Will Grebenstein combined to limit the Hawks to six hits.
Freshman Shane Davies pitched a complete game in game two as he allowed eight hits and one run while striking out two to notch the victory.
Sophomore Alex Brown had three hits in the first game, while Chris Kashangaki, Chris Godfrey and Colin Dower each had two hits in the opener.
Kashangaki scored two runs in the second game and Jack Kraft added an RBI double.
After UMES (5-28, 2-9 MEAC) tied the score at 3-3 with a run in the top of the fifth inning of game one the Eagles responded.
Hamlett led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play.
Brown delivered Hamlett with the go-ahead run when he singled to center giving CSU a 4-3 lead.
After a sacrifice bunt by Godfrey moved Brown to third, Kraft lifted a sacrifice fly to righ that plated Brown and upped the lead to 5-3.
Coppin State added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single from Hamlett and a sacrifice fly by Godfrey.
Taylor went 6.2 innings to raise his record to 2-4 on the season, while Grebenstein pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief to notch his first career save.
Coppin State took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning of game two when Hamlett hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Kashangaki giving CSU a 2-1 lead.
The Eagles pushed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kraft hit a two-out double that scored Brown.
Davies closed the game strong for the Eagles as he retired 11 of the final 13 batters of the game.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com
Bethune-Cookman sweeps Rattlers, 4-1, 16-3
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 6) - Florida A&M dropped a doubleheader from arch-rival Bethune-Cookman as the Wildcats defeated the Rattlers, 4-1 in game one and 16-3 in game two, Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field in a MEAC matchup.
B-CU recorded a game high 10 in the contest as Chris Biocic garnered a team high three hits for the Wildcats, while FAMU finished with six hits with Hunter Barfield finishing with a team high two hits.
Scott Garner (3-4) got the win for the Wildcats as he went the distance, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out seven in nine innings of works, while David Duncan received the loss for the Rattlers as he pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs and striking out seven in the 30 batters he faced. Brandon Fleming pitched two innings of relief for the Rattlers as he gave up two hits and earned one earned run in the eight batters he faced.
B-CU jumped out a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Eric Sams scored on a Biocic single to the left side.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the top of the sixth as Eros Modena scored on Sams single and then Sams would score on a Matt Noble single to the right side, making the score 3-0 in favor of B-CU.
B-CU made the score 4-0 in the top of the eighth as Noble scored on a Biocic triple to right field.
FAMU scored their only run of the game on Marlon Gibbs sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Jared Walker, for the 4-1 finale.
In game two, B-CU tallied a game high 15 hits, while FAMU garnered eight hits in the contest.
FAMU (2-31, 2-12 MEAC) was led by Reginald Grant and Scott Sheplak from the plate as they both finished with two-hits each for the Rattlers.
B-CU (17-17, 9-5 MEAC) was paced by Sams with four hits, followed by Anthony Stokes and Josh Johnson as they both finished with three hits each.
Christ Waltermire (2-1) got the win for the Wildcats in game two as he pitched three innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one in the 11 batters he faced, while Heath Blackman (1-7) got the loss for FAMU as he pitched five and one-third innings, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs and striking out three in the 30 batters he faced.
FAMU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Grant scored on a Robinson single, followed by a Sheplak single scoring Robinson.
B-CU cut FAMU’s lead to 2-1 in the top of the third inning as Brandon Turner scored on a Sams single to left field.
The Wildcat tied the contest at 2-2 as P.J. Biocic scored on a FAMU throwing error in top of the fourth inning.
FAMU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Sheplak scored on a Gibbs sacrifice fly to right field scoring Sheplak, who doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning, giving the Rattlers a 3-2 lead.
B-CU would then erupt in the sixth and seventh inning as they scored seven runs in each of the innings for the 16-3 finale.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.bcuathletics.com
North Carolina A&T Takes Two From North Carolina Central
GREENSBORO—After sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium with 11-8 and 7-3 victories against North Carolina Central, the Aggies narrowed that gap, and have a chance to move in front of the Eagles in the MEAC Southern Division standings on Sunday.
The Aggies (11-20, 7-6) have not swept a series yet this season, and have not swept a doubleheader since they bested Buffalo on Feb. 15 to open the season. Saturday also marked just the third time this year the Aggies have won two straight contests.
The Aggies totaled 22 hits in the twinbill, and had five batters hit over .300 on the day. Sophomore right fielder Dylan Hipp batted .375 with a double, four runs and four RBI, while junior designated hitter Cameron Jergens batted 4-for-9 with a 3-run home run and six RBI. Senior Kelvin Freeman batted 4-for-8 with a double, a triple, three runs and three RBI in the doubleheader as well.
In Game 1, the Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After A&T starter Brent Moore issued back-to-back two-out walks, a single to left field by Spencer Franceschetti brought home a run. Designated hitter Dylan Drayton then hit the ball to second, but Jeovanny Tolentino booted the ball, which allowed the second run to score.
The Aggies responded by taking the lead as Jergens lifted a 3-run home run to right for his first homer of the year.
NCCU starter Michael Romano got into a little more trouble. He walked the first three batters he faced in the second. Hipp singled to right, and two runs scored on the play. An RBI single by senior left fielder Dairio Little put the Aggies in front, 6-2.
NCCU scored a run in the third, and pulled within two runs in the fifth. The Eagles loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder’s choice with an out in the fifth. Drayton then hit into a fielder’s choice, and a run scored on the play. Tolentino tried to turn the double play to get out Drayton at first, but the throw went wild. Drayton took second base, and another run scored on the error. Drayton scored on an RBI single by right fielder Ronald Thompson to make it an 8-6 game.
Freeman hit an RBI triple down the left field line to make it 9-6 in the sixth. Moments later, Little singled to the left side, bringing home Freeman for the tenth Aggie run.
The Eagles brought in their seventh run on an RBI single to right by Thompson. A&T then called on sophomore right-hander Shane Carter to face pinchhiter Carter Williamson with two out and a runner at third. Williamson grounded out to Carter to end the inning.
In the eighth frame, junior catcher Stefan Jordan hit a sac fly to put A&T in front, 11-7. A single through the right side by sophomore Brandon Wilkerson put runners on the corners with one out for Tolentino. NCCU then called on Scott Fulmer to pitch, and he retired the next two batters to end the A&T threat.
In the ninth, the Eagles worked to rally. NCCU led off with a single by Franceschetti. Drayton reached on a fielder’s choice, but Franceschetti was safe at second. With two on and no out, Thompson grounded out. Williamson grounded out to Freeman, and the eighth Eagle run scored on the play. Tyson Simpson entered the game to pinchhit, and he grounded out to short to end the game.
Moore picked up his fourth win of the year, and Carter earned the save for the Aggies.
In Game 2, the Aggies took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Jergens in the first inning. The Eagles pulled ahead with two runs in the second.
But the Aggies didn’t stay behind for long. Freeman singled through the left side in the third to tie the score, 2-2. With runners on the corners and one out, Jergens singled to left field to bring home both runners and to give A&T the lead. The bases became loaded as NCCU starter Glenn Frye walked Jordan with two outs. But Frye got Wilkerson to go down swinging to end the inning.
With runners in scoring position in the fourth, Drayton hit a single up the middle to pull the Eagles within one at 4-3. Thompson hit into a 6-3 double play to end the inning.
The Aggies worked to pad their lead and gain some breathing space. In the fourth, Freeman slammed a double to center field to bring home Hipp, who reached on a fielder’s choice. In the fifth, a two-RBI single to right by Wilkerson put the Aggies ahead, 7-3.
Ganus retired the last six batters he faced in order to secure the complete game victory.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Pitching, Long Ball Key Norfolk State Sweep Of Hornets
Dover, Del. (Apr. 6, 2013) --- Delaware State team suffered its first MEAC losses of the season in a doubleheader sweep by Norfolk State at Soldier Field today.
The Spartans won the first game 5-3 and completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.
Norfolk State had solid pitching performances and smacked two home runs in each game.
In the opener, Delaware State scored first with a run in the second inning. Eddie Sorondo started the rally with a one-out single. He advanced to second when Hassan Evans was hit by a pitch; and scored the game’s first run on a two-out single by Cameron Onderko.
Norfolk State answered with three runs in the top of the third. Robert Barefoot homered to lead off the inning and Zach Markel added a two-run shot to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead.
Markel doubled in a run and Cameron Day had a run-scoring single in the fifth to stretch the Spartans’ lead to 5-1.
Delaware State added a run in the fifth to pull to within 5-2. J.P. Frey tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a ground out by Cameron Cecil.
The Hornets pulled to within 5-3 when Ryan Haas singled in a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Delaware State had runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but failed to score. The Hornets left 10 runners on base in the opener.
Norfolk State starter Chris Horne (2-2) allowed five hits and two runs in six innings to earn the win in game one. Justin Bhatti tossed three innings of relief to collect the save.
Jordan Elliott (4-1) suffered the game one loss for Delaware State.
The Norfolk State win in the opener snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Hornets. It also snapped Delaware State’s season-best seven-game win streak.
In the nightcap, Norfolk State pitchers Richie Salter and Ray Morton combined on a six-hitter; while and Markel and Kyle Vaas had solo homers.
The Spartans opened up a 2-0 lead when Vaas led off the second inning with a homer to right field.
The Hornets scored a run in the bottom of the second to pull to within 2-1. Sorondo doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a safety squeeze by Onderko.
Markel homered in the sixth to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead.
Sorondo singled in a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the NSU lead to a run.
The Spartans tacked on insurance in the top of the seventh inning.
Sorondo and Evans had two hits each for the Hornets in the nightcap.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.nsuspartans.com