Coppin State holds off Maryland Eastern Shore to take series
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Coppin State baseball team showcased its never-say-die-attitude in accomplishing its goal of earning a series win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. It wasn’t easy, but the Eagles will take their hard-fought 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Hawk Stadium back across the Bay Bridge.
Coppin State (8-17 overall, 6-5 MEAC) captured its second series victory of the year over UMES. Overall, the Eagles won their third of four MEAC series this season to move into a first place tie with Norfolk State, which lost two out of three to Delaware State this weekend, in the Northern Division. The Eagles have a perfect opportunity to take control of the conference as they will play 10 consecutive home games against Northern Division competition beginning Saturday when Delaware State rolls into Joe Cannon Stadium.
An amazing four-run eighth inning rally by Coppin State made the impending home stand relevant. Coppin State crammed five of its six hits into a spectacular eighth-inning that proved to the difference in the game. Again, it was the Eagles’ leading hitters that were in the middle of all of the action.
Five outs away from dropping a crucial series they needed to win, Dave Hamlett and John Walls smashed consecutive doubles to bring CSU to within, 3-2. Jack Kraft followed with a game-tying single. Chris Godfrey finished the inning off in style with a two-out RBI single that gave Coppin State the lead for good. For Coppin State, this was the fourth time this season, it rallied to win a game when trailing after seven innings.
Jhar Devilme pitched 1.2 innings to earn the win and Michael Roberts continued his wonderful comeback story by tossing two scoreless innings to earn the save. He dodged danger in the eighth and ninth innings to help the Eagles enjoy a happy trip home. Roberts hit two batters in the eighth inning, but got a critical out to end the eighth when he needed it. The Hawks also applied pressure in the ninth inning by putting their first two runners on base.
Maryland-Eastern Shore scored single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 3-0 lead into the eighth.
Coppin State concludes its eight-game road trip when it visits George Washington Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game starting at 3:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com
Bethune-Cookman Shows Resolve in Clinching-Series win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (17-17, 9-6 MEAC) claimed the series win before an ESPN Networks national broadcast audience with a 4-2 win over the Florida A&M Rattlers (11-19, 8-6 MEAC) in Sunday’s series and home schedule finale at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The Wildcats made a statement early, as senior first baseman went yard to center field on the first pitch from David Duncan, giving B-CU the 1-0 advantage.
The Wildcats followed up in the second, as right fielder Josh Johnson logged a two-out double on the right field line, coming home on Zach Olszewski’s RBI single up the middle.
Although the Rattlers kept B-CU at bay through two frames, the Wildcats again strung together scores in consecutive innings, beginning with a Matt Noble roped RBI single into left field in the fifth, followed up with Olszewski scoring from third as Sams hit into an error in the sixth, pushing the Wildcats’ advantage to 4-0.
Starter Montana Durapau kept the Rattlers under control through seven shutout innings, but as he crossed the pitch count century mark in the eighth, FAMU center fielder Blake Quillen got the best of him, tripling a slider left high to the center field wall. First baseman Bennie Robinson capitalized with an RBI single up the middle, narrowing the B-CU lead to 4-1.
As FAMU mounted a rally, Durapau yielded to Michael Austin, who allowed one additional runner to score in the eighth on Marlon Gibbs RBI single to right field, but closed the frame and shut the door permanently with three straight outs in the ninth.
Durapau (7-0) collected a season-high eight strikeouts in his 7 2/3 on the mound, allowing six hits and two runs while remaining perfect on the year with the win, despite a season-high 119 pitches. Austin threw 1 1/3 with two hits allowed for his second save.
For the Rattlers, starter Duncan (2-3) takes the loss, pitching 4 1/3 with six hits, three runs and one strikeout.
At the plate, Sams was a catalyst for the Wildcats, hitting 2-for-5 on the day and 6-for-12 in the series. Olszewski logged a 2-for-4 hitting performance with an RBI and a run scored, whole Noble was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
With the victory, the Wildcats win the series over the Rattlers 2-1, but still have to climb to the top of the standings, as North Carolina Central’s series sweep of North Carolina A&T grants them a half-game lead over B-CU. The Wildcats travel to face the NCCU Eagles in Durham, N.C. next weekend.
In the meantime, the Wildcats will take on a pair of midweek rematches, traveling to Volusia County rival Stetson on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in DeLand, followed by a Wednesday trip to face Jacksonville, also at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday’s series and home season finale was televised live on ESPN3.com.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.famuathletics.com
North Carolina Central earns sweep over North Carolina A&T
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University made it five consecutive wins on the week after piling on 14 hits, holding the volatile North Carolina A&T lineup to five hits, and getting another clutch performance on-the-hill from an Eagle starter as the maroon and gray finished off the weekend sweep 12-3 over the Aggies on Sunday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
The win puts NCCU in first place in the MEAC’s (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Southern Division with three conference series left.
The maroon and gray threw the first haymaker on Sunday on sophomore catcher James Dey’s frozen rope double to the wall in right centerfield scoring senior Carter Williamson and freshman Bryant Battle to plate the first two runs of the day, putting the Eagles up 2-0. Sophomore Kory Wood added the final run on a RBI single that scored Dey and gave NCCU a 3-0 advantage.
The always dangerous NC A&T lineup did damage in the third inning with two outs on the board after a miscue by the Eagle defense, the Aggies tied the game up on first baseman Cameron Jergens RBI double off the rightfield wall and Stefan Jordan’s RBI single, but Jergens was gunned at home keeping the game knotted up at 3-3.
Battle’s RBI single in the bottom of the third scored senior Tyson Simpson to snatch the lead back at 4-3.
The maroon and gray added another run in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 advantage and did not stop there adding two more in the sixth frame on Simpson’s two RBI single to make it 7-3.
While NCCU added to the lead, sophomore righty Alex Dandridge kept the Aggies off the board.
The game took a turn in the seventh and eighth innings when NC A&T head coach Joel Sanchez along with three other players got tossed. A&T hurler Hugo Mercedes was thrown out for intentionally hitting two batters, while All-MEAC performer Luke Tendler and Kyle Clary were also ejected in the contest,
NCCU went on to win the game 12-3 after scoring a combined five runs in the controversy filled seventh and eighth that included an RBI double by sophomore outfielder Carlos Ortiz down the right field line.
Dandridge earned his first win as an Eagle with a season-high seven strikeouts in seven innings of work as he gave up no earned runs and just four hits in the victory.
Five different Eagles recorded at least two hits led by Williamson and Wood who both recorded three hits on the day. Wood finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Williamson was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and reached via a hit-by-pitch.
NCCU (14-17-1, 9-5 MEAC) gets back to action on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. against crosstown foe Duke University at Jack Coombs Field in Durham, N.C.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ncataggies.com