Coppin State University’s baseball team lost to Navy, 8-7, after giving up three runs in the ninth inning during a game at Max Bishop Stadium on Tuesday night. The Eagles’ record dropped to 0-8 for the season, while Navy improved to 8-3.
Armando (AJ) Hurtado and Marcus Sanders each collected two hits and drove in two runs for Coppin State. Nelson Grajales also had multiple hits and an RBI. Pedro Agosto and Emilio Feliciano contributed with one RBI apiece.
On the mound, Aaden Lopez allowed one run on three hits over three innings and struck out three batters. Nick Dolbin gave up two runs in his debut for Coppin State. Jackson Montgomery pitched a scoreless inning, inducing three groundouts. Jack Joyce provided two innings of relief, surrendering just one run and striking out two.
Brandon Stephens was charged with the loss after allowing three unearned runs, walking four batters, and striking out three. Mekenna Wakakuwa retired both hitters he faced; however, the final out came on a walk-off sacrifice fly.
Navy took an early 1-0 lead before Coppin State responded by scoring twice in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings to hold a 6-4 advantage after five frames. In the third inning, Sanders hit an RBI single followed by Feliciano’s sacrifice fly that put Coppin ahead. Hurtado doubled home Grajales and Angel Garcia in the fourth inning. Agosto and Grajales added RBI singles in the fifth.
Sanders extended Coppin’s lead with an RBI double in the eighth inning that brought Noah Hogan home from first base.
Navy narrowed the gap with a run in their half of the eighth before rallying for three runs in the ninth. The winning sequence included a leadoff single, a walk, a throwing error that tied the game, another bunt single to load runners, followed by a sacrifice bunt putting two runners into scoring position with one out. Victor Izquierdo then hit a deep fly ball to left field that allowed Henry Mitchell to score the decisive run.
Coppin State will begin Northeast Conference play against Mercyhurst at Joe Cannon Stadium from March 6-8. Friday’s game is set for 3 p.m., with games scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
