Offense Explodes As DSU Takes Doubleheader From HowardCLINTON, Md. - Five Delaware State players recorded at least four hits Saturday afternoon as the Hornets defeated Howard, 14-6 and 12-3, at Cosco Field in MEAC play.
The Hornets outhit the Bison, 33-16, and outscored them, 26-9.
DSU (21-16-1; 11-3 MEAC) was led at the plate by senior Jordan Reid, who went 6-for-7 with five runs, three RBI, three stolen bases, a double and walk in the two games. Fellow senior Casey Beighley was 5-for-8 on the day with four runs and three RBI while freshman Bria Green and sophomore Stephanie Martello each went 4-for-7. Green finished with three runs scored, four RBI, two stolen bases and two walks while Martello posted four runs, four RBI and a home run.
Senior Breanne Parr knocked in two doubles and a home run to finish the day 4-for-8 with three runs and two RBI.
Up 1-0 going into the second inning, the Hornets had their biggest stanza of the day, posting six runs on five hits and one HU error to take the 7-0 lead.
DSU played small ball in the top of the third, scoring two more runs on four singles, a walk and stolen base.
Howard (9-31; 7-10 MEAC) got in on the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits. The Hornets prevented too much damage however as three runners were left stranded as senior Lorae Robinson grounded out to DSU sophomore pitcher Ashlyn Campbell to end the inning.
Del State added two more in the sixth and three more in the seventh to take the 14-4 lead. The Bison wouldn't go away without a fight though as Robinson led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single and Dominique Lawrence followed with a home run to come within 14-6. Green came in to pitch for sophomore Stephanie Sarris and wrapped up the game to give the Hornets the game one victory.
The offense didn't falter in game two, as Delaware State took the 12-3 mercy-rule victory in five innings.
The Bison put up three runs in the bottom of the frame, but that is all the offense Howard would see in game two.
The Hornets posted their biggest inning of the game in the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits. Reid led off the inning with a double up the middle and advanced to third on a wild pitch as Martello walked. Parr then walked to load the bases before senior Tawny Reeger knocked her second double of the day to score two runs. Beighley followed with a two-RBI single through the right side to give DSU an 11-3 advantage. Once again with the bases loaded, Reid was hit by a pitch to score another Hornet run.
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Coppin State Sweeps Hampton
BALTIMORE -- Candice Van Horn hit a walk-off single in game one and then went 2-for-2 with two RBI in game two leading Coppin State to a sweep of its MEAC doubleheader versus Hampton on Saturday at the Coppin State Softball Field.
Coppin State won the opener 10-9 by scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh inning and completed the sweep with a 5-4 victory in the second game.
Van Horn delivered a bases-loaded single with two outs capping a four-run rally and lifting the Eagles to a dramatic victory over the Pirates.
The freshman then added a two-run homer and a double in game two leading CSU to the win.
With the two victories, Coppin State improved to 17-19 overall and 10-4 in the MEAC and clinched a berth in the upcoming MEAC Tournament.
Coppin State jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings in game one only to see Hampton come roaring back.
The Pirates (20-28, 8-6 MEAC) scored single runs in the third and fifth innings and then took the lead by scoring seven times in the top of the sixth inning. The rally was capped by a three-run double by pinch-hitter Kerissa Burruel giving Hampton a 9-6 lead.
In the Coppin State seventh inning, Paige Arnold led off with a single to center and advanced to second when Heather Josker walked.
CSU cut the lead to 9-7 when Arnold scored on a Hampton fielding error.
Samantha Denlinger then ripped a double to right scoring Josker, but Emily DeJesus was thrown out at the plate perserving the one-run lead momentarily.
With two outs, Nicole Boggs singled through the left side and then Taylor Kairos drew a walk to load the bases.
Patrice Williams forced in the tying run when she was hit by a pitch, which allowed pinch-runner Erica Washington to score and tied the game at 9-9.
Van Horn then blasted a ball to right, which went over the outfielder's head and brought home Boggs with the winning run.
Denlinger picked up the win in relief of starter Arnold as she notched her first victory of the season.
Coppin State took the lead for good in the second game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Van Horn doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Arnold reached on an infield single.
Hampton then committed two errors with Arnold and Van Horn on base, which allowed Van Horn to score and Arnold to reach third base giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
DeJesus followed with a sacrifice fly to left that brought home Arnold and increased the lead to 3-1.
Van Horn stretched the lead to 5-1 when she homered to center after Kairos was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
That was enough offense for CSU starter Tiffani Whaley as she recorded her second complete game of the season. She didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and finished with a season-high six strikeouts.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
Bethune-Cookman Splits with Savannah State
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Calesha Shelley slapped a bases-loaded triple and Michelle Banuelos-Smith hit a two-run homer in Bethune-Cookman's six-run second inning defeated Savannah State 6-2 to salvage a split of a MEAC Southern Division doubleheader Saturday at Sunnyland Park.
In the first game, the Wildcats (25-25 overall, 10-1 MEAC South) saw their 24-game conference regular season game streak end when the Tigers (21-21,9-2) posted a 3-2 victory in eight innings on the strength of Jami Paolini's two-run homer in the extra stanza.
Banuelos-Smith hit a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning to close B-CU to 3-2, but the Wildcats could come no closer.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ssuathletics.com
Lady Rattlers Sweep South Carolina State, 7-1, 9-0
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 28) - Florida A&M up a pair of MEAC wins as they swept South Carolina State with the Lady Rattlers winning game one 7-1 and blanking the Lady Bulldogs 9-0 in five innings in game two, Saturday afternoon at the Lady Rattler Softball Complex.
FAMU (20-27, 6-4 MEAC) pounded out a team high 11 hits as Tera Gainer was a perfect three-for-three from the plate, scoring three runs, while driving in one.
SCSU (14-25, 3-8 MEAC) finished game one with five hits as the Lady Bulldogs had four players to finish with one hit each.
Jennifer Lindsey (9-8) picked up the win for the Lady Rattlers as she pitched seven innings, giving one five hits, one earned run and striking out six in the 26 batters she faced, while Vianney Gomez (9-18) received the loss for the Lady Bulldogs as she gave up 11 hits, and seven earned runs in six innings of work.
LaTavia Riley gave SCSU an 1-0 lead as she scored on a Tiffany-Anne Harris double to left field in the top of the first inning.
FAMU would tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first as Jasmin Donaldson scored on Arianna Stewart single up the middle.
The Lady Rattlers would take the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Obie Roberson singled to left center scoring Gainer, giving FAMU a 2-1 lead.
FAMU would add to their lead to in the bottom of the fourth inning as Whitney Robinson, who doubled down the left field line in her at bat, scored on a Gainer double to left field. Then Gainer would score on a Tenisha Dixon double to left field. Then Dixon would score as Donaldson grounded out to the pitcher, giving the Lady Rattlers a 5-2 lead.
Roberson would score the Lady Rattlers final runs of the game as she hit a two-run blast to left field, for the 7-1 win.
In game two, FAMU would pick up where they left off as the finished the game with 10 hits with four finishing the contest with two hits each, while SCSU tallied five hits in the contest as Riley finished with two hits to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
Ashley Minter (3-7) received the win as she pitched five scoreless inning, striking out three and allowing five hits, while Raven Johnson received the loss as she gave up seven earned runs, ten hits and striking out three in four innings of work.
The Lady Rattlers would pick up two runs in the bottom of the first as they used back-to-back hits by Myrick and Robinson with Donaldson scoring on a Myrick single, followed by a Robinson triple scoring Myrick, giving FAMU a 2-0 lead.
FAMU added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning as Donaldson scored her third run of the day on a Stewart single, followed by a Gainer single scoring both Myrick and Ashanti Shepherd, giving the Lady Rattlers a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Rattlers would score four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for the 9-0 win, invoking the eight-run.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.scsuathletics.com