Submitted by Steve Kramer, Director of Athletic Communications
SALISBURY, Md. – A pinch hit grand slam by Anthony Divittorio was not enough as Coppin State’s baseball team dropped a 5-4 game at Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles now stand at 11-20 overall and 4-8 in the NEC.
Coppin outhit the Hawks, 7-5, getting a pair of hits and a walk from leadoff man Brett Curran, but Divittorio’s roundtripper was the only extra-base hit for the Eagles. Josh Hankins, Corey Miley and Angel Colon all had a base hit and a walk apiece.
Tyler Nichol got the start on the mound and gave up just three earned runs on three hits while striking out three in 5.0 innings. John Neeld made his season debut and pitched and retired all three batters he faced. Rashad Ruff threw the final 2.0 innings and allowed a run on two hits while striking out a pair.
UMES scored a run in the first and another in the third before scoring a pair in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. The Hawks’ tacked on another run in the eighth, which proved to be huge.
Hankins and Miley started the ninth with back-to-back walks before Colon loaded the bases with a single. After a strikeout, Divittorio replaced Bryce Thompson and slugged his first career home run over the fence in right field to cut the deficit to a single run.
Unfortunately, the next two CSU hitters retired, allowing Maryland Eastern Shore to come out with the win.
Coppin is set to host Lehigh on Wednesday, April 12 before welcoming Stonehill for a three-game NEC series on April 14-16. Friday’s game is set for 3 pm, followed by a 1 pm start on Saturday and 12 pm on Sunday.
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