ELKRIDGE, Md. (Interstat) — Jake Cumming delivered a career-best performance on the mound and Armando Hurtado provided all the necessary offense with a two-run homer as the Coppin State Eagles edged the Mercyhurst Lakers 2-1 in a tightly contested non-conference baseball game Friday evening at Joe Cannon Stadium.

The victory, played under the lights, marked the first of the season for Coppin State, which improved to 1-8. Mercyhurst, still seeking its initial win, fell to 0-8.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the second inning, shifting the momentum permanently in Coppin State’s favor. After Mercyhurst starter Matthew Delvaux had retired the first four batters he faced, Coppin State’s Angel Garcia reached first base on a throwing error by Lakers third baseman Logan Koslin. Hurtado then stepped to the plate and launched a Delvaux offering over the left-field fence for a two-run homer, scoring Garcia ahead of him. The blast provided the Eagles with a 2-0 lead, turning an early defensive mistake into a decisive offensive advantage.

That swing made a hard-luck loser of Delvaux, who was otherwise brilliant for Mercyhurst. The right-hander pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just the two runs—only one earned—on the Hurtado homer, which was the only hit he surrendered. He walked two and struck out six before giving way to reliever Anthony Krause, who was perfect over the final 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.

Their efforts were overshadowed by Cumming, who dominated for Coppin State. The Eagles’ starter worked 7 2/3 strong innings, scattering five hits and allowing one run while striking out seven and walking two. He efficiently protected the one-run lead after Mercyhurst scratched across a run in the sixth. With Jayden Walker on second after a single and a stolen base, Michael Samarin drove him in with a single to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Cumming exited with two outs and two runners in scoring position in the eighth inning, handing the ball to Justin Ritz. The reliever extinguished the threat by striking out Koslin swinging, then proceeded to strike out the side in the ninth to earn the save, fanning four total batters in his 1 1/3 hitless innings.

Mercyhurst, which finished with five hits, was led by Walker who went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases and the team’s lone run. Coppin State managed six hits, with Garcia going 2 for 4 and scoring a run, and Emilio Feliciano adding two singles.

The game defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose simulator had predicted a 1-0 Mercyhurst victory and whose ELO system gave the Lakers a 75.3% probability to win.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their series at Joe Cannon Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.