Nibblett Goes Seven Strong but Shore Strikes Out 18 Times at Plate
COLUMBIA, Maryland – The Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team had no answer for Coppin State’s Jordan Hamberg on Sunday (May 1) at Blandair Park in Columbia, falling 4-2 on the road in the first series loss of the season.
The Hawks (15-30, 14-14 MEAC) still hold second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, while the Eagles (21-25, 17-11 MEAC) maintain first place.
Hamberg got the Eagles on board early with a home run in the first inning against Shore starter Evan Nibblett, rocketing a shot over the center-field wall on a full count.
Starting both on the mound and at the plate, Hamberg struck out seven straight Hawks until the third inning when he allowed his first runner on when Andrew Revels drew his 24th walk of the season. Revels was caught stealing during the next batter, over sliding second on his attempt.
In the third inning, Hamberg struck again, driving in Landen Albright on a single up the middle to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
The Hawks found paydirt in the top of the fifth with two singles to lead off the inning, first by Alex McCoy hitting to center and then a perfect bunt by Kyle Cincinnati to the left side – followed by a walk by Bryan Widdowson. Brian Cordell then came to bat and hit a single, driving in McCoy and Cincinnati but Cordell and Widdowson were doubled up on mistaken base running.
Nibblett kept the Eagles in check for the rest of his outing, replaced by Riley Horner in the eighth inning as he crossed the 100-pitch mark. Wellington Balsley walked to start the Eagle’s offensive half of the inning and then was advanced to third following back-to-back ground outs before being driven in by Sebastien Sarabia single, giving the home squad a one-run lead.
Looking for an insurance run, the Eagles were able to score Sarabia when Tyler Lloyd doubled to left-center on an 0-2 count.
With the last call in the ninth, the Shore was unable to get anything going, striking out twice with a pop-up between.
On Wednesday (May 4) the Hawks are back in action in another bird fight, hosting the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens at home. The Shore dropped the first meeting 15-0 in Newark on April 20.
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For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.