DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2019— Luis Torres-Lopez scattered seven hits in a complete-game performance as Savannah State upended Coppin State 7-3 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championship first-round game Wednesday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The No. 3 seed from the Southern Division, Savannah State (13-25-1) will face Southern Division top seed North Carolina A&T State Thursday at 12 p.m.. Coppin State (24-23) will play Delaware State in an elimination game later this evening.
Torres-Lopez, a sophomore, walked two and struck out five as the Tigers led from start to finish. This was the third Tiger pitching staff's third consecutive complete game effort.
"I was confident, coming into the game trusting myself and trusting my defense," Torres-Lopez said. "We just have to keep pitching, playing defense and getting it done, someway, somehow on offense."
"[Torres-Lopez] put the team on his back," Savannah State head coach Carlton Hardy said. "Our last three starters have gone the distance and closed their own game. None of them would let me take the ball out of their hand."
Jalen Atterbury scored three runs, capitalizing on two walks and three stolen bases.
Turner Davis and Justin Washington each had two hits, while Garrett Bogart had ninth-inning RBI that padded the Tigers' lead.
Savannah State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Atterbury, who led off the inning with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, scored on Joey Roberson's sacrifice fly.
The Tigers pushed their lead to 3-0 in the fifth, when Attenbury scored on a wild pitch before Justin Washington singled home Bogart.
Derek Lohr got the Eagles on the board in the bottom of the frame when he scored on Conner Walker's fielder's choice.
Davis scored on Derek Rivera's single in the seventh for Savannah State, only to have Coppin State answer in the bottom of the frame when Erik Crossman's sacrifice fly brought home Marcos Castillo.
Castillo had two hits for the Eagles.
