PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – In their infinite quest to lead the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team will be making the trek across the Bay Bridge to take on Coppin State University to finish up the season series. Currently the Hawks (14-27, 13-11 MEAC) trail the Eagles (18-24, 14-10 MEAC) by a game in the conference but have their most conference wins as a team since 2015.
 
The series is set to take place at the Bachman Sports Complex, the third different field that the Eagles have called home this season, with game one on Friday (April 29) at 3 p.m., a doubleheader on Saturday (April 30) starting at noon and the getaway game on Sunday (May 1) at noon.
 
Last Time Out
 
Two weeks ago, the Hawks and Eagles split their series in Salisbury, with the Shore taking game one in extra innings, followed by a doubleheader split, and then Coppin taking the Sunday matinee. The last time the Hawks went across the bridge to take on their MEAC rivals the teams split the series as well.
 
Examining the Eagles
 
Coppin State runs through their hitting, with five different batters hitting over .300 – led by Corey Miley, Jordan Hamberg and Marcos Castillo. Hamberg has been arguably one of the top three players in the MEAC this season and leads the Eagles in nearly every hitting category aside from average, which he trails Miley by just .012 points.
 
Aside from getting on base, Coppin is one of the best stealing teams in the nation, ranking fourth and often going for the double-steal with two men on.
 
Hamberg doesn't only get it done in the box for the Eagles, he is also the top starter, typically taking the Sunday game of MEAC series. He's sitting on a 3.59 ERA and leads the team with 61 strikeouts over 47.2 innings pitched. Tim Ruffino has been on his tail though, with a 3.66 over five starts, although he is more of a groundballer with just 26 strikeouts over 32 innings pitched.
 
Marcos Herrand has been solid as well on the mound, picking up MEAC Rookie of the Week honors for his effort against the Hawks last time out.
 
Sure Shore
 
The Hawks haven't deviated much throughout the season, knowing what they excel at and how to win games in their own way – small ball and solid starting. While no Hawks have won player of the week for their hitting, three different starters have won MEAC Pitcher of the Week – most recently Cameron Bratton for his complete game shutout against Norfolk State where he set a career high in strikeouts with eight.
 
Leading the team at the plate has been the ever-steady Ryan Howe, with his team leading .348 average and 30 RBIs. In three of the last four games, Howe has advanced Andrew Revels in the first inning, who often reaches on a slap single or walk with a team leading .488 OBP.
 
Brantley Cutler has been a solid extra-base hitter for the Shore with his team leading 12 doubles and is tied with Howe in home runs, each with three.
 
On the mound the Hawks have slowly pieced it together as the season has come along and are one of the top teams in complete games, starting with Noah Covington leading the nation in complete games with five, the Derrick Rabb Jr. and Bratton both having two apiece to put them at seventh. Evan Nibblett returned to the mound in the last Coppin series, turning in six earned over ten innings as he works himself back into form.
 
In relief, Blake Rebstock is in prime shape after two scoreless appearances against Norfolk the past weekend and Ryan Davis being what head coach Brian Hollamon calls "a source of calm" on the mound during his long relief stints.
 
Follow along with the action on Twitter via @eshawksbase.