PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play begins for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team this weekend. Their first matchup is a three game series with the Coppin State Eagles at Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover, Maryland.

Games are at 3 p.m. Friday (March 15), 2 p.m. Saturday (March 16), and 1 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Admission to Joe Cannon Stadium is free, and live stats will be available.

Maryland Eastern Shore stands at 3-14, with victories over Longwood, Fordham and Lehigh. Avery Tunnell (Dover, Delaware) leads with a .300 average (6-for-20) during the start of the season, followed by D.J. Doherty (Harbeson, Delaware) at .281 (9-for-32). On the mound, junior Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey) has been credited with all three wins, cruising to a 2.01 ERA.

Coppin State is the reigning MEAC Northern Division champion and reached the tournament semifinals last season. They have followed their 21 win season from a year ago with a 6-6 start in 2019. The Eagles have earned victories over Savannah State, Albany and Charlotte.

Since 1985, the Hawks and Eagles have met 175 times. Coppin holds the advantage in the series 97-78 and won five of the six matchups last season. The Shore got its win on March 17th with a 1-0 shutout effort led by starting pitcher Evan Bertone.

This will be the first of three weekends that these two squads battle. The Hawks will host Coppin State April 5-7 at Perdue Stadium, and return to Joe Cannon April 26-28.