Box Score (Game 1) l Box Score (Game 2)

HANOVER, Maryland - Maryland Eastern Shore hoped to gain ground with a doubleheader sweep against Coppin State, but they had to settle to stay right where they are in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division standings, at least for now. The Hawks won the opener, 4-3, before dropping the nightcap, 1-0, to force a rubber match to be played 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The Shore's record improves to 6-23 (4-7 MEAC) on the season.

Pitching was the highlight for the Hawks on Saturday. Both starters put in strong efforts, with freshman Wesley Martin (Westminster, Maryland) turned in seven strong innings, giving up just two earned runs despite allowing 11 baserunners. He also managed to strike out a pair of Coppin hitters along the way. Sophomore Zach Mills (Parksley, Virginia) finished with a hard luck loss after going 5 1/3 innings with no earned runs and three strikeouts. Juniors Chris Melrath (Rising Sun, Maryland) and Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) contributed scoreless relief outings, with Melrath striking out three Eagles.

On offense, senior Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Georgia) tallied four hits in seven at-bats to lead all Hawks. A trio of players from The Shore recorded base hits in both contests, including junior Tyler Friis (Appleton, Wisconsin), who had a 2-for-4 performance in the opener.

The first game was a back-and-forth affair. Coppin State scored first with a run in the second inning, but the Hawks responded in the third with a 2-RBI double from sophomore Ryan Rotondo (Warwick, Rhode Island) to take the lead, 2-1. The Eagles tied it up in the fifth but that drew another immediate comeback from The Shore, who earned a sacrifice fly from sophomore Dominic DeBlasie (Tilton, New Hampshire) that scored junior Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia).

Maryland Eastern Shore would not lose the lead again but the difference was an RBI single from senior Justin Somerville (New Windsor, Maryland) in the eighth, which helped the Hawks stave off a ninth inning charge from Coppin to win the game, 4-3.

A pitchers' duel ensued in the second game, with neither team scoring for the first five and a half innings. Coppin broke thru with a run-and the win-with a one out walk that later scored on a passed ball and a scoring error. Eagles starter Jahmon Taylor drew a four hit complete game shutout to secure the doubleheader split.

The rubber game is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday at Joe Cannon Stadium.