Delaware State splits with Hampton to Wrap Up Series
DOVER, Del. – Concluding a season-long 14-game homestand, the Delaware State softball team (17-8, 2-1 MEAC) settled for a split with the Hampton Pirates (13-14, 4-2 MEAC) Tuesday afternoon with a 5-1 victory in game one, followed by a 4-2 defeat. However, the Hornets took two out of three from the Pirates to win the series after yesterday’s 10-9 comeback victory.
To begin the day, DSU took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after a Jessica Madrid (3) three-run home run off Jecholia Pratt (4-6). Later, same score, the Hornets took advantage of three HU errors to make it a 5-0 ball game in the sixth.
Allowing two hits, no runs and tallying six strikeouts heading into the seventh, senior Rachel Meagley (3-2) relinquished a leadoff single to infielder Kerissa Burruel, resulting in freshman Tara Tursellino (4) coming in to record the save.
The Pirates, meanwhile, continued to battle back as they managed to load the bases with two outs after a Pratt infield single. Next up, shortstop Margaret Wilkins tallied HU’s fourth single of the inning to bring outfielder Taylor Clark from third.
Nevertheless, Tursellino kept her composure and struck out ensuing batter Danielle Budden to seal DSU’s fifth straight victory.
At game’s end, both teams finished with six hits, whereas Madrid and Wilkins both went 2-for-4. As a unit, however, the Pirates committed four errors.
Game two, on the other hand, featured Hampton taking a 3-0 lead after two innings, beginning with a Burruel two-run RBI in the first, followed by a Wilkins RBI infield single in the second.
Fortunately, the Hornets generated some offense in the fifth by way of a Nkili Matthews RBI-double to score infielder Jordan Stamps all the from first. Two batters later, after infielder Kaitlyn Slater lined out to left field, infielder Chloe Oro drove in Matthews with an RBI-single to cut the deficit to one. Yet, despite ensuing batter Nicole Gazzola reaching first on a bunt, HU’s Jailynn Jackson (9-8) fanned Madrid for the final out.
Next inning, after the first two batters were retired, Burruel sent a grounder to Stamps at third, but she was unable to handle it. As a result, Clark drove in Burruel with a double to make it a 4-2 ball game.
Hoping for a late-game rally similar to yesterday’s contest, the Hornets saw their comeback attempt dwindle quickly with Matthews grounding to first and pinch hitter Morgan Hobbs flying out to center.
Thankfully, DSU caught break as Oro reached first on a Jackson error. With the game-tying run at the plate, Jackson bounced back to force Gazzola to ground out to second to end the game.
For the Pirates, they totaled nine hits, led by Wilkins going 3-for-4 and outfielder Raenelle Taylor turning in a 2-for-3 performance. Pitching wise, Jackson allowed five hits, two runs, no walks and recorded four K’s, whereas her counterpart in Tursellino surrendered eight hits, three earned runs and one walk before getting replaced by Vanessa Ciocatto (6-3) in the sixth.
Leading the offensive charge for DSU was Oro’s 2-for-4 outing at the plate.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red face a quick turnaround as they will begin a seven-game road swing tomorrow against Hofstra with a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
Coppin State sweeps Maryland Eastern Shore
BALTIMORE – The extra days between games proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Coppin State softball team. Playing Maryland-Eastern Shore three days after its originally scheduled contest was just what the Eagles needed to get their groove back.
Coppin State showcased stellar pitching from sophomore Alyssa Barker in winning the opening game, 4-0. The Eagles then ended the day by displaying a power show highlighted by a pair of homers in winning the nightcap, 11-3, over UMES in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader.
The two wins helped Coppin State (5-11 overall, 3-2 MEAC) leap back into the MEAC race after enduring a rough weekend in Norfolk 11 days ago. UMES fell to 6-26 and 3-2 in the conference. The teams still have to make up one game from the scheduled weekend series, which will be done at a later date.
Gabrielle Ziller led Coppin State with two hits in each game to extend her hitting streak to six games. Candice Van Horn, Samantha Denlinger and Alyssa Barker all had three hits each over the course of the two games. Van Horn raised her batting average to .490 and Denlinger upped her average to .429. Van Horn had two hits in the second game to extend her hitting streak to 15 games. It was her seventh multi-hit game of the season.
In tossing her first shutout this season, Barker was masterful on the mound by striking out four batters and permitting five hits. According to Hineline, Barker had more command today and she was able to throw the pitches she wanted to for strikes. She pitched in and out of trouble early in the game thanks to some strong glove work from Kim Brown at third base, Van Horn at shortstop and Heather Josker in rightfield, who made a highlight reel catch in the first inning of the second game.
While Barker won both games and threw every inning, the Eagles offense had some fun especially in the second game after falling behind, 1-0, in the top of the first inning three batters into the game. Coppin State erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the inning. The big highlights in the inning were a two-run double by Brown and a steal of home by Van Horn.
The real thunder occurred later in the game when Ziller and Samantha Denlinger homer. Ziller’s blast was amazing. She launched the ball over the 30-foot high netting and into the parking lot where it hit a white pick-up truck in the second inning. Denlinger applied the finishing blow in the nightcap by belting a two-run shot.
UMES was paced by Alexis Hudson and Chelsea Alston, who had two of the Hawks’ four hits in the nightcap. Vanessa Gomez drove in two runs for UMES.
Coppin State won’t have much time to savor this triumph as it visits Drexel in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com