SALISBURY, Maryland – It was the perfect start to the series against Coppin State for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team on Thursday, April 6. After falling behind in the seventh, the Hawks stormed back in the bottom of the inning, giving them the 6-5 lead to start the weekend.
The win moves the Hawks to 7-21 (5-8 NEC) and moves Coppin to 11-18 (4-6 NEC), keeping UMES ninth in the Northeast Conference, just a game behind the Eagles.
"We played good baseball there," interim head coach
Shawn Phillips said. "We battled, we fought back and got the lead, then we made some key plays in the ninth – it was good to see."
Brantley Cutler got the Hawks moving early with a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the first inning. The outfielder continues to dominate left-handed pitching, he is hitting .407 against southpaws and has two home runs against them this season.
Getting his third weekend start,
Kyle Speas kept Coppin in check until running into trouble during the top of the fifth inning. Getting a man on, the Eagles would hit a home run against the freshman, then repeated the process to put them up 4-1.
In the bottom of the frame the Hawks cut the lead thanks to
Jason Brown legging out an infield single, stealing second and being driven in by a
Dillon Oxyer single.
The Hawks continued to battle in the bottom of the sixth, as Brown came through again, this time with a double that scored both
Kyle Cincinnati and
Luke Myers – tying the game at four-all.
Coppin grabbed a run in the top of the seventh, manufacturing the drive against
Blake Rebstock before knocking a sacrifice fly to center to put them up by a run.
With more work to do, Cutler decided one home run on the day wasn't enough, taking the Eagles yard to right field for a second time, evening up the game. After
Alex McCoy singled and stole second, Cincinnati barreled a single and gave the Hawks the one-run lead.
"We needed it," Phillips said of the Cutler home runs. "The first one got us ahead and the one that tied it, we needed it. He put two good swings on them, and he's got the opportunity to leave the yard at any time.
Nick Gatton, who came in to relieve during the seventh, dominated the eighth inning, striking out the side to preserve the lead for closer
Caden Parker.
Opposed to playing without drama, Parker put two men on in the ninth before a phenomenal 8-6-2 play at the plate kept the Hawks up and a bases loaded flyout ended the game.
"He drives me crazy, but he gives it his all," Phillips said of Parker. "He's going to give me everything he's got and that's what I told him (during the jam), he's the right guy for the job and he battled."
Once again, the Brown's got it done for the Hawks at the plate, both Jason and Anders with three hits – Jason knocking two RBIs as well. Cincinnati, Cutler and McCoy each added two hits themselves.
"JB's electric when he's in the order, he's playing really good right now," Phillips said. "Him getting on base, creating havoc with his speed, he's seeing the ball really well right now. He's earned himself a spot."
Gatton picked up the win over Coppin and Parker his sixth save of the season, tying the season record since 1992 that was set by Mike Roberts in 2006.
The Hawks return to the diamond at 3:00 p.m. on Friday (April 7) for the second game against Coppin State.
Noah Covington, the nation leader in BB/9 at .20, will be getting the start for UMES.
Live Stats will be provided with a link available on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletics website, and as always, follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksBase.
