PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – The Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team is looking to rebound after a long afternoon away from home by welcoming Coppin State University to Perdue Stadium for a four-game series starting on Thursday (April 14). Sitting at 8-8 in the conference and the Eagles at 9-7, it's an opportune time for the Hawk to even up or take over the top spot in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
 
Calculating Coppin
 
The Eagles will be heading to town with a bit more rest and a slightly better record than the Hawks, not playing since Sunday (April 10) in a series split with Norfolk State while sitting at 13-20 overall compared to the Shore's 9-23 record.
 
Leading the way for Coppin is Jordan Hamberg, one of the top players in the MEAC, both at the plate and on the mound. The reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week most recently pitched against the Spartans with a complete seven-inning game, striking out 13 along the way and not allowing a run. At the plate he is one of the top Eagle hitters with his .338/.432/.618 line while being perfect stealing and leading the team with four home runs.
 
First basemen Sebastien Sarabia may not be the fast man in the conference but he swings one of the biggest sticks with his .917 OPS and 35 total hits. His partner on the right side of the infield Corey Miley leads the team with a staggering .504 on-base, walking 29 times so far this season.
 
While most Eagles fly, Coppin is known to run with Wellington Balsley, Marcos Castillo, Josh Hankins and Brian Nicolas combining to steal 52 bags at an 85% clip.
 
Aside from Hamberg, the Eagles have found quality starts from Tim Ruffino who has started five games with nine total appearances. Last time out against the Hawks, Ruffino went five innings and gave up three – most recently he pitched four scoreless innings against Norfolk State.
 
The pen has been anchored by freshman Justin Johnson, who has made 12 appearances in relief and thrown 27 innings, striking out 31 along the way.
 
Home Hawks
 
The Shore hasn't played at Perdue Stadium in ten games, with two MEAC weekends away, along with two mid-week matchups against out of conference schools. So far this season the Hawks are 4-11 at home, with two wins against Norfolk and two wins against Del State.
 
Battling for the top average on the team, Ryan Howe took the lead over on Wednesday (April 13) with a two-hit outing at University of Maryland – Baltimore County, one being an RBI double, increasing his average to .337 this season. Behind him is Brantley Cutler with a .323, being held hitless against the Golden Retrievers but still holds the team lead in doubles. Both are the only two Hawks with more than 30 RBIs.
 
Jason Brown is slowly working his way into a regular roll, starting eight of the last ten games, working himself to a .364 average for the season with eight hits in 22 at-bats. He has a knack for scoring runs, already with five on the season.
 
This weekend Noah Covington looks to improve on his nation leading four complete games with Coppin visiting – the Seaford native has gone the full seven innings asked of doubleheaders in his last three games and had the Shore's first win in over two years with a nine-inning performance against Radford in early March.
 
Derrick Rabb, Jr. has been electric as of late, picking up a MEAC Pitcher of the Week nod for his first complete game against Del State on March 26 and was in the running this past week for improving on that performance this past Sunday (April 10).
 
Shore Schedule
 
A slight adjustment and some major news happened for the Hawks the past few days.
 
On Wednesday afternoon the decision was made to bump the Thursday (April 14) game up an hour to 2 p.m. in an attempt to avoid the incoming rain later that evening.
 
For those who cannot make the Friday (April 15) doubleheader there will be an opportunity to stream the games through Delaware Sports Media for the first time at home this season. Links are provided on easternshorehawks.com with the respective games.
 
Live Stats will be provided by Maryland Eastern Shore and updates with also be available on Twitter via @eshawksbase.