Box Score | Updated Bracket


NORFOLK, Va., May 10, 2023 - The Eagles of Coppin State won the 2023 MEAC Softball Championship’s opening game 6-4 over the Howard Bison on Wednesday morning at the NSU Softball Field. 

The Eagles improved to 13-26 with the win, while Howard dropped to 18-25. Coppin State advanced to Wednesday’s 3 p.m. game against top-seed Morgan State, while Howard will play an elimination game on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Coppin State plated the first run in the top half of the second inning, when Avanna Peterson scored following a fielding error by the Bison to take a 1-0 lead. 

Coppin State was just getting started, as the Eagles went on to add two runs in the third inning. Brissa Alvarado doubled to right center, and Celeste Gonzales scored, and Alvarado later scored on a single up the middle by Seryna Esparza to put Coppin up 3-0. 

The Eagles tacked on three more runs in the top half of the sixth. Brooklyn Tapusoa and Xzylia Maraville would both score as the result of an error; then Ava Camarena came in following a successful bunt by Gonzales to take a 6-0 lead. 

Howard got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth by scoring four runs in the inning. Makaela Digaudio scored following a single from Kalita Dennis, and Sydni Jones scored following a fielding error by the Eagles. 

Dennis then came around to score following a single up the middle by Maryn Jordan, and Shalon McNeal would plate the final run of the inning after a single to right center by Jade Green.