Softball | 5/8/2026 11:27:58 PM

NORFOLK, Va–  The No.2 seeded Delaware State Hornets defeated No. 6 seed Coppin State Eagles 3-2 in nine innings Friday night at TowneBank Field to advance in the elimination bracket of the 2026 MEAC Softball Championship. 

In a tightly contested pitcher’s duel, neither team scored through the first five innings before Delaware State broke through in the sixth. Chandler Martin launched a solo home run to center field to give the Hornets a 1-0 advantage. 

Coppin State answered in the seventh inning when Giselle Ulloa connected on a solo home run to left-center field, tying the contest at 1-1 and eventually forcing extra innings. 

The Eagles took the lead in the top of the ninth after Cameran Corbett scored on a Delaware State fielding error, giving Coppin State a 2-1 edge. Delaware State responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Zaelyn Harding came around to score on an RBI single from Mi’Shon King to tie the game before King later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to complete the walk-off victory. 

Delaware State totaled seven hits in the win, led by Karly Cain’s 2-for-4 performance and Chandler Martin’s solo homer. King delivered the game-tying RBI single and scored the winning run, while Harding added a hit and scored twice. 

Coppin State finished with four hits in the contest. Ulloa paced the Eagles by going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, accounting for the team’s only RBI. 

Rhyannon Stanley earned the win in relief for Delaware State, improving to 6-4 on the season.  

With the win, Delaware State Hornets advanced to continue play in the 2026 MEAC Softball Championship. The Hornets will face No. 5 South Carolina State Bulldogs at 11:00 a.m., with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Howard Bison in the championship game at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+. 

###