Baseball MEAC Media Relations

Hornets Top Hens 10-6 For Head Coach J.P. Blandin?s 200th Career Victory

Delaware State rallied for eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 10-6 win over Delaware at Bob Hannah Stadium in Newark on Tuesday afternoon. The win also marked the 200th career victory for DSU head coach J.P. Blandin, who is in his eighth season with the Hornets.

Delaware State has won a season high five games to improve to 10-19 on the season. The Hens fell to 10-19.

The Hornets trailed 6-2 before the ninth inning rally. Jim Johnson knocked in the first run of the inning with a bases loaded single to pull the Hornets to within 6-3. A walk to Jose Portela with the bases loaded cut the Hens’ lead to 6-4.

Delaware State made it a 6-5 game when Justin Bittner reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Alex Carter on the play. There were two outs in the inning when Delaware third baseman Matt Harden committed an error on a ball hit by DSU’s Jamie Friel to allow the tying run to score. Ryne Mailen, who led off the inning with a single, then cleared the bases with a triple to right center to give the Hornets a 9-6 lead.

Mailen later scored on a wild pitch to give DSU a four run lead. Delaware State’s Chase Kornemann (1-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out two batters, to earn the win for the Hornets. Tony Tevis struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

The Hornets opened the scoring when Wynton Weather singled in a run in the top of the second inning. Ryan Reed hit a solo homer in the fourth to give UD a 2-1 lead. Delaware pulled ahead 6-1 after scoring two runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Delaware State scored an unearned run in the sixth to trail 6-2. The Hornets outhit the Hens 10-8.

Weather was 3-for-4 with a RBI, while Mailen and Jose Sanchez had two hits each. Blandin is now 200-187-4 at Delaware State.

The win also snapped the Hornets’ five-game losing streak against Delaware. The Hens hold a 28-7 lead in the series.

Each of DSU’s wins over Delaware has come under Blandin, who is now 7-17 vs. the Hens. The teams are scheduled to meet again on April 22 at Delaware State’s Solider Field.