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Baseball Falls to Coppin State, 8-5

LEXINGTON, Va.? Freshman hurler Carlos Russell threw his first career complete game and sophomore Harry Williams hit a two-run home run to lead Coppin State past VMI, 8-5, in non-conference action at Gray-Minor Stadium on Tuesday night.

Russell, who entered the game having thrown eight innings this season, went nine innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits. Coppin State improves to 3-40 on the year, while VMI falls to 20-20.

He was backed by three home runs from the Eagle offense, with two coming off the bat of Oscar Santalo. Williams accounted for the other four-bagger, breaking a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with his fifth of the season.

With the advantage 5-3 entering the ninth, the Eagles rallied for three more insurance runs, when Santalo led off the frame with his second home run, before Jonathan Reynolds doubled home Roman Batista then scored on a wild pitch.

The Eagles needed those runs, as VMI rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Tanner Biagini's two-run home run cut the margin to 8-5, before Russell set down the next three batters to break Coppin State's 30-game losing streak.

VMI took a 1-0 lead in the second, when Justin Hess doubled home A.J. Yoder.

A three-run fifth inning put the Eagles on top, before the Keydets rallied with single runs in the sixth and seventh to tie the game.

Santalo went 2-for-4 with his two home runs to pace the Eagle attack, while Williams' two-run home run accounted for his only hit.

Hess' 3-for-4 night included a school-record-tying three doubles. Brian Sandridge extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-for-5 evening.

The Keydets and Eagles wrap up the two-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

IF/OF
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

IF
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
IF/OF
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
OF
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF