Tamra Griffin's two-out grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Morgan State to a 5-3 Game 1 victory over rival Coppin State.
Game 1
Game 2
BALTIMORE, Md. (March 31, 2009)-As Morgan State trailed crosstown rival Coppin State 3-1, the Lady Bears' Tamra Griffin stepped back in the batter's box in the bottom of the seventh inning in the dream scenario that many athletes dream of – bases loaded, two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the final inning.
What happened next was the dream ending, as Griffin smashed the next pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam to give Morgan State a dramatic 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Lady Eagles in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Lady Bears would then overcome a three-run deficit in the seventh inning of Game 2, before defeating Coppin State, 8-7 in eight innings to complete the doubleheader sweep in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for both teams on Tuesday evening at Lois T. Murray Field.
Coppin State (3-11, 0-2 MEAC) broke a scoreless game in the first game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning when Victoria Pope hit a two-run homerun. Morgan State got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Lydia Walther-Rodriquez scored on Griffin's sacrifice fly.
The Lady Eagles, who haven't beat Morgan State in six years, added another run in the top of the sixth off of a sacrifice fly to left by Charma Robinson, which scored Jade Dudley, giving the guests a 3-1 lead.
Things looked bleak for Morgan State, as Coppin State pitcher Paige Arnold retired the first two Morgan batters to start the seventh inning. But the hosts rally would begin when Porsche Boddicker reached on an error. Back-to-back bunt singles by Devina Brown and Rodriquez, loaded the bases for Griffin to provide her heroics.
The win was recorded by Megan Johnson, who pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks. Johnson also tallied a game-high eight strikeouts. Rodriquez totaled two hits on four at bats, two and runs, while Carolynn Howard went 2-for-3. Griffin finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and a game-high five RBIs.
Stephanie Watts led the Lady Eagles with two hits in four at bats, while Dudley finished 1-for2 with two runs and a walk. Pope went 1-for-3 with a run and a team-high two RBIs. Paige Arnold was charged with the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits, two walks and recorded two strikeouts.
The Lady Bears return to action on Thursday, April 2, when they visit UMBC for a non-conference doubleheader at the UMBC softball stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
