HORNETS SWEEP TWIN-BILL FOR SERIES WIN
Dover, Del. (Mar. 24, 2019) --- The Delaware State softball team posted two walk-off wins to sweep Coppin State in a MEAC North doubleheader today. The Hornets won two of the three games in the opening division series for each team.
DSU won the first game 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and took the nightcap 3-2 in 10 innings.
In the opener, Hornet catcher Jaelyn Baker singled in the game-winning run in the last of the seventh inning. Jasmine Melgoza doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jade King. After a walk to Jordan Casey, Baker lined a shot to the fence in left field to score Melgoza with the winning run.
The Hornets opened the game one scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. DSU scored the first two runs on a Coppin State error and third run crossed the plate when Casey scored on a double steal with King.
The Eagles tied the game with three runs in the top of the fourth. The big blow in the inning was a two-run homer by Milford (Del.) High School product Nia Bowe to tie the score.
Brianna Baker (2-9) was the winning pitcher in the opener for the Hornets. Baker allowed three runs and eight hits, while striking out two without a walk in the complete game performance.
Melgoza had two of the Hornets' six hits in the opener.
In the nightcap, winning pitcher Tiffany Diao scored Sabrina Quarles on a sacrifice fly with none out in the 10th inning for the winning run.
Under extra inning rules, Quarles was placed on second base to start the inning. She moved to third when Coppin State first baseman Kayla Brown committed an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by DSU's Alexis Roberson. Diao followed with a fly ball to right field, with Quarles sprinting home after the catch.
Delaware State opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first on a sac fly by Casey and run-scoring single by Jaelyn Baker.
Coppin State tied the game after scoring single runs in the second and fifth innings.
Diao pitched all 10 innings to earn the win for DSU, allowing just five hits and two runs.
King was three-for-four at the plate for the Hornets in the nightcap.
