Salisbury head coach Scott Heppenheimer didn’t have any answers as to why the Falcons’ bats were virtually nonexistent on Monday against Coplay. It just seemed to be one of those nights.

Coplay scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back as it captured a 7-0 victory over Salisbury at Sam Balliet Stadium. The Falcons recorded just four hits in the shutout loss.

“We were flat,” Heppenheimer said. “Obviously you saw the first two innings. [Pitcher] Will [Rodriguez] obviously didn’t have his stuff. He says he doesn’t throw well [at Balliet Staduim] usually. But he’s pitched great for us all year.”

It didn’t help Rodriguez’s cause when the Falcons (4-4-1) committed two errors in that second inning that helped bring four runs across home plate.

After a pop out to Coplay’s first batter of the inning, Rodriguez walked both Luke Gilbert and Austin Miller to give Coplay a bit of momentum. Coplay continued to press on. Jacob Paashaus lined a single into left field that brought home Gilbert for Coplay’s first run of the game.

Devon Olsovsky was then hit by a pitch, forcing Heppenheimer to bring in Taylor Linn in relief of Rodriguez. Zachary Bilder then grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought home another Coplay run, but an errant throw to first base also scored Paashaus for a 3-0 lead.

Coplay tacked on another run moments later when another Falcon infield error saw a ball sail over the third baseman’s head on a steal attempt.

“I took Taylor Linn out because he was at 30 pitches; one more pitch and he can’t pitch [Tuesday against Northern Valley],” Heppenheimer said. “[Hunter] Rothrock did a nice job as a freshman.”

Linn pitched 2 1/3 innings, finishing with three strikeouts and no hits allowed.

Despite the early hole, Heppenheimer doesn’t believe that had any effect on why his team looked sluggish from the opening inning.

“A lot of these guys are veterans and played for us for years, and we’ve always continued to play,” Heppenheimer said. “But today I don’t know what it was.”

Coplay opened the fifth inning with three straight walks. A pop out in foul territory near the first base line brought home Joseph Lisicky from third base as no one covered home plate. Then, Miller blasted a two-run singled into left center field that made it a 7-0 lead.

The Falcons have an important week ahead with two of the top teams in the league visiting in the upcoming days. Friday’s game against undefeated South Parkland is set for 6 p.m., with Saturday’s game against Carbon Monarchs scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

“We have Northern Valley [Tuesday], which is a tough one,” Heppenheimer said. “Then we have South Parkland on Friday and Carbon on Saturday. So it’s a big week.”