Sebastian Taylor

Softball Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletics Communications

Lady Bears To Close Out MEAC Slate Against Rival Coppin State

Morgan State to honor its five seniors this weekend.

BALTIMORE, Md. (April 23, 2026)--The Morgan State softball team will look to close out the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) slate and its home schedule on a high note, when the Lady Bears host crosstown rival Coppin State in a crucial three-game series this Friday and Saturday (April 24-25) at Lois T. Murray Field.
 
With the threat of possible weather conditions, the three-game series will now take place with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. and will conclude with a single game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
This weekend's series will also be the final home games at Lois T. Murray Field for Morgan State seniors Gianna Ettore, Allison Keener, Nia Lewis, Tonya Marks and Cassie White, who will be honored following Saturday's game.
 
Although not in recent years, this week's theme for Morgan State is a familiar one from the past: Win and you're in. In past years prior to the Lady Bears' two MEAC Tournament championships and their MEAC dominance during the regular season and in the old MEAC Northern Division, Morgan State's tournament fate seemed to come down to the final weekend of the season against a familiar foe in the Coppin State Eagles. This weekend will be no different.
 
Coppin State (8-22, 7-11 MEAC) sits fifth in the league standings, while Morgan State (9-26, 6-12 MEAC) currently holds the sixth and final qualifying spot for the upcoming MEAC softball championship.
 
While the Lady Bears would love nothing more than to sweep their rivals, two wins would give Morgan the series win over Coppin, as well as solidify its spot in the tournament, by controlling all tiebreaker scenarios over a surging Maryland Eastern Shore team and North Carolina Central, who are both 5-13 in the MEAC.
 
Coppin State enters the weekend series on a five-game losing skid. The Eagles dropped all three contests on the road last weekend to regular season champion Howard. The Bison would outscore Coppin State 25-3.
 
Morgan State, which has dropped two straight and lost nine of out of its last 10 games, is coming off a 9-7 non-conference loss at Towson on Wednesday. The Lady Bears have lost their last three MEAC series, including dropping two games on the road to Norfolk State last weekend.
 
MSU-CSU Series Notes: Morgan State holds a 23-9 series lead over Coppin State since the 2015 season. The Lady Bears swept last season's series at Coppin and have won the last five meetings against the Eagles, including back-to-back wins over Coppin State in the 2024 MEAC championship series to capture the program's second title.  
 
 
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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bear athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Gianna Ettore

#12 Gianna Ettore

INF
5' 8"
Senior
Nia Lewis

#1 Nia Lewis

OF/1B
5' 9"
Senior
Tonya Marks

#13 Tonya Marks

SS
5' 8"
Senior
Cassie White

#4 Cassie White

OF
5' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Gianna Ettore

#12 Gianna Ettore

5' 8"
Senior
INF
Nia Lewis

#1 Nia Lewis

5' 9"
Senior
OF/1B
Tonya Marks

#13 Tonya Marks

5' 8"
Senior
SS
Cassie White

#4 Cassie White

5' 0"
Senior
OF