Machin Powers VCU Past Norfolk State
RICHMOND, Va. – Vimael Machin homered and drove in four runs to lead host Virginia Commonwealth to a 13-1 win over Norfolk State on Wednesday night at The Diamond.
The Rams (26-8) had four extra-base hits among their nine total hits in the game. Three VCU pitchers, meanwhile, combined to limit NSU (12-20) to just two hits in a contest that was shortened to seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
Machin drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in VCU’s two-run first, hit a two-run homer in the third and was credited with an RBI on a Spartan error in VCU’s five-run fourth. The Rams scored at least once in the first five innings of the game.
Bill Cullen and James Bunn added two RBI apiece for VCU.
Omar Hotusing and Zach Markel had NSU’s only two hits, a pair of singles. The Spartans got their only run in the top of the seventh and final inning, when Tyon Ore was hit by a pitch, moved to third on two groundouts and scored on a two-out Ram error.
Daniel Concepcion (4-2) got the win for VCU by pitching four scoreless innings. He struck out four. Troy Applin (1-1), making his first start of the year for the Spartans, was charged with the loss. He allowed eight hits and nine runs in three innings.
The Spartans head to Maryland for a four-game, two-day series at Coppin State this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Friday, and another starting at noon Sunday.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Coppin State falls to UMBC
ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. – The Coppin State baseball team had plenty of scoring chances early and late against Maryland-Baltimore County during a 3-0 non-conference setback at Joe Cannon Field Wednesday evening. The quick nine-inning contest was completed in two hours, 13 minutes.
Freshman Bryant Miranda had two of Coppin State’s five hits and David Hamlett extended his hitting streak to nine games during the setback. Miranda has two multi-hit games this season and nine hits over his last seven games. Coppin State (8-22 overall) received strong pitching performances from William Grebenstein, Shane Davies and Dillon O’Brien. They combined to allow one earned run and just five hits. Grebenstein and Davies struck out four batters each.
Chris Godfrey reached base for the 12th straight game with a first inning single. The Eagles had three hits, including a leadoff double in the first inning, but they were not able to push across a run. In the eighth inning the Eagles had their first two runners reach base fueled by Jonathan Calvin’s pinch-hit single and Jeffrey Fitch being hit by a pitch.
Two of UMBC’s runs were scored with two outs. Jake Barnes delivered an RBI triple in the top of fourth inning after a two-out walk to Mark Esposito extended the inning. A CSU error in the eighth inning allowed the Retrievers to score a pair of unearned runs in the inning on a groundout and Esposito’s RBI double.
Coppin State continues its nine-game homestand Friday afternoon when it hosts Norfolk State in a critical Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader at Joe Cannon Field beginning at 3:00 p.m. This series was originally scheduled to be played at Norfolk State this weekend, but the teams switched home series when CSU played at NSU on March 31 because of the rain that forced the postponement of the three game series.
The Eagles will play at UMBC next Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
UMES splits twinbill at Lehigh
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Lehigh University on Wednesday afternoon as the Hawks fell 6-3 in the opener, before using an 12-hit attack to win 11-3 in the nightcap. The Hawks had double-digit hits for the fifth time in the past seven games as they ended Lehigh's seven-game win streak.
UMES (9-20) was led on the day by senior Byron Campbell, who was 2-for-6 with two RBI, one double and one run. He was one of two players to hit safely in both games as senior Stephen Bull moved his hitting streak to 21 games with a hit in each contest.
Freshman Skylar Murray posted a career-high two hits in the second game, while junior Chipper Smith allowed three runs and walked just one to post his second win of the season in the win. It was his first complete-game of the season, third overall for the Hawks. UMES saw all nine of its starters hit safely in the nightcap.
UMES fell behind by four to open the doubleheader as Lehigh (17-15) used three hits and one error to take the early advantage. The deficit would grow to five in the second, before senior Nick Cooper blasted a solo shot to left to make the game 5-1. The homer was the first of Cooper's collegiate career.
The Hawks would go quiet over the next two innings, but rallied with two runs in the sixth. With one away, Mike Escanilla walked and senior Stephen Bull singled. The pair each came around on a two-RBI double by Campbell, who ripped the ball down the left field line and past the outstretched arms of Lehigh's Joe Abeln to make the score 6-3.
Freshman Kameron Raison threw two scoreless innings in relief of sophomore starter Will Turley. Raison fanned two and allowed just three base runners, while Turley (1-4) went four innings and allowed six runs on eight hits.
The nightcap saw the Hawks take an early 1-0 lead when Escanilla singled to open the game and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bull. UMES built onto its lead with four in the second to make the score 5-0.
With one away, Murray walked and moved over on an infield single by freshman Troy Anderson. Escanilla singled to score Murray, before Bull put a ball in play to score Escanilla and Anderson. UMES capped the scoring in the frame after junior Greg Turlik reached on an error that saw Bull score from third.
Lehigh answered with two in the bottom of the inning, before the game went scoreless over the next three at-bats. The Mountain Hawks made the score 5-3 after Connor Donovan scored on a wild pitch, but the Hawks responded with another tally after a ball in play off the bat of Joshua James scored Turlik.
Smith shut down Lehigh over the next two innings and junior Devin Repine closed the seventh to help
UMES secure its fourth win in the past eight days. The Hawks scored five in the last inning to race away with the win.
Lehigh was paced by Justin Pacchioli, Joe Abeln and Brandon Wilt, all of which had multi-hit opening games. Mark Kozemchak allowed one run and fanned five in five innings to pick up his second win of the year. The Mountain Hawks had nine hits in the opener, but only managed to have three off of Smith in the nightcap.
UMES resumes action this Friday when the Hawks travel to Delaware State for a doubleheader beginning at noon. The Hawks will play two doubleheaders in two days as the men cap the series with a Saturday doubleheader.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Rattlers Score Four Unanswered Runs To Defeat Alabama State 4-3
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (16-21, 10-7 MEAC) scored four unanswered runs to defeat Alabama State (28-14, 16-2 SWAC) 4-3 on Wednesday at Moore-Kittles Field. William Carrasco (3-3) earned his third win in 11 days after pitching 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Ryan Kennedy and Marlon Gibbs combined to go 4-for-7 with two RBI in the win.
The Hornets grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of an RBI single from Einar Muniz. Dexter Price hit a double down the left line before advancing to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Muniz singled through the right side to score Price from third for the first run of the game.
Alabama State increased its lead to 3-0 on Richard Gonzalez’s two-run home run in the third inning.
Florida A&M made the score 3-1 with a run on two hits in the fourth inning. Logan Seymour drew a leadoff walk for the first base runner of the game for the Rattlers. Seymour then stole second and moved to third as Kennedy singled through the left side to put runners on the corners with one out. FAMU got on the board with an RBI single from Gibbs to plate Seymour, but Michael Birdsong later grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the scoring threat for the Rattlers.
The Rattlers tied the game in the sixth, at 3-3, with three hits and two runs in the inning. Seymour doubled and Bennie Robinson followed with a single into left center. With Seymour on third Kennedy’s RBI single cut the lead to 3-2 and Gibbs was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Weeks was walked to bring in the game tying run.
Alabama State loaded the bases twice in the seventh inning but FAMU reliever Carrasco made a great defensive play fielding a slow grounder back to the pitcher and throwing out the would-be go ahead run at the plate. Carrasco followed his defensive gem by striking out Price to end the inning, leaving the bags full for Alabama State.
For FAMU in the eighth, Robinson singled up the middle and Gibbs recorded a single of his own with one out to put runners at first and second. Blake Quillin came to bat and hit a ball deep into the hole at short. Alabama State tried to throw Robinson out at third on a force out, but the throw from Hornet shortstop Emmanuel Marrero sailed high allowing Robinson to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.
FAMU held Alabama State scoreless over the final six frames.
Alabama State reliever Patrick Coffin (3-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up the winning run in the eighth inning.
Florida A&M and Alabama State close out the two game series at Moore-Kittles Field on Thursday, April 17 at 2:00 pm.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Blue Devils upend Eagles in final meeting of season
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University issued a season-high 14 walks as crosstown foe Duke took full advantage of the free bases on the way to an 11-2 win over the maroon and gray on Wednesday night at the Durham Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
After allowing Duke to take a 7-0 advantage through the fourth inning, the Eagles got on the scoring ledger in the bottom of the sixth on senior Carter Williamson’s single through the right side as Tyson Simpson later scored on a wild pitch to cut the margin to five at 7-2.
The Blue Devils went on to the 11-2 victory, but freshman Conrad Kovalcik put on his best performance on the year going 3-for-4 at-the-dish, including his first career double down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth.
NCCU’s Simpson also recorded multiple hits on the night going 2-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.
Senior reliever Jacob Russell set a new modern era record as he made appearance No. 69 in his year career, passing former Eagle James Jordan at the top of the list. Russell recorded a walk and two strikeouts in his lone inning of work.
NCCU (15-22-1) hits the road to battle Savannah State in league action on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 in a three-game set at Tiger Field. The maroon and gray enter the conference series just a half-game behind Bethune-Cookman in first place in the Southern Division.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com