Box Score

HANOVER, Maryland -- With a 7-4 victory over Coppin State, the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team earned its place in a three way tie with the Eagles and Delaware State for second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Northern Division. The Hawks took two of three from the Eagles to improve to 7-23 (5-7 MEAC) on the year.

With an 11 hit outburst The Shore led early and often. Each team scored a run in the first, and after a brief Coppin lead, the Hawks grabbed the lead back for good with a two RBI double from freshman Blake Coleman (Woodbridge, Virginia)--his first collegiate hit--to go ahead, 3-2.

A four run sixth inning sealed the deal, capped off by a two run home run from sophomore Ryan Rotondo (Warwick, Rhode Island).

From there, freshman starter Marty Tolson, Jr. (Stafford, Virginia) took over. He would earn his first collegiate victory, going six innings and allowing just two earned runs with three strikeouts against no walks. Freshman Bryan Liriano (Rockville, Maryland) finished off the game for the Hawks with two scoreless innings.

In addition to the heroics of Coleman, Rotondo, Tolson and Liriano, Maryland Eastern Shore received a 3-for-5 day from freshman Randy Pineda (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) and a multi-hit game from senior Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Georgia).

The victory moved Eastern Shore into a tie with Coppin at 5-7 in conference play, and when Delaware State lost both games of a doubleheader to Norfolk State, they also joined the Hawks and Eagles in a three way tie for second place.

Maryland Eastern Shore returns home to face Navy Wednesday before heading to Norfolk to resume MEAC play against the Spartans next weekend.