Dominque Lawrence limited Coppin State to just three hits and also went 3-for-4 with a run batted in to lead Howard to a 3-1 victory over Coppin State in the finale of a three-game series on April 7 at the Coppin State Softball Field in Baltimore, Md. The victory by Howard salvaged the final game of the series and also ended Coppin State’s winning streak at seven straight. Coppin State won the first two games of the series on April 6. Lawrence went seven innings and allowed, one run and struck out eight batters to earn the victory.
Coppin State (14-15 overall, 7-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) got two hits from Patrice Williams and a hit from senior Paige Arnold. Arnold absorbed the loss for the Lady Eagles as she allowed eight hits, but only one earned run in 7.0 innings of work.
Howard scored a run in the first inning by taking advantage of two Coppin State errors.
After two batters reached base via errors, Lawrence singled up the middle to score the first run of the game for the Bison.
The Lady Eagles rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Arnold ripped a double to left to start the rally. Emily DeJesus walked and Arnold advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Eagles then executed a double steal as DeJesus stole second and Arnold stole home to tie the contest at 1-1.
Howard took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning when Andascha Moore-Pryor singled in Trina Kindred who had walked to lead off the inning. The Bison extended the lead to 3-1 when Jenny Ly hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lorae Robinson who had reached on a three-base throwing error.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t push across any runs. Williams reached first on an infield single to start the inning and advanced to second when Candice Van Horn was hit by a pitch. Heather Josker laid down a sacrifice bunt, which advanced Williams to third and Van Horn to second. The Lady Bison (4-22 overall, 2-5 MEAC) then intentionally walked Arnold to load the bases with one out. Their strategy succeeded when Lawrence was able to get two ground balls to end the game.
Howard will face Towson on April 11, while Coppin State challenges Delaware State on April 14.
