DOVER, Del. - Down, 5-4, heading
into the bottom of the sixth inning in game two of a doubleheader, the Delaware
State University softball team tabbed seven runs in the frame to come back and defeat
Hampton University, 11-5, Sunday afternoon at the Hornets' Nest. The Hornets (13-11-1; 3-0 MEAC) also took a
5-2 game one victory to sweep the Lady Pirates (13-23; 2-4 MEAC) in their first
weekend of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.
Del
State got on the board first in game two as freshman Bria Green (Wheatley Heights) led off the bottom of the second with
a double to right center. The outfielder
then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to go up, 1-0.
The
Hornets added two runs on four hits and one Lady Pirate error in the next
stanza with singles from seniors Leslie
Pleasanton (Smyrna, Del.) and Tawny
Reeger (Simi Valley, Calif.) and sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) and a double from senior Jordan Reid (Accokeek, Md.).
Hampton
responded in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on four hits to take the
5-3 advantage. With two outs and the
bases loaded, Lady Pirate junior Carla Trimble tripled down the left field line
to clear the bases before the end of the inning.
Reid
led off the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle, stole second and
then advanced to third on an error by second baseman Sharde' Estep. Senior Casey
Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.) knocked an RBI single up the middle to allow
Reid to score and bring things to 5-4 in favor of Hampton.
The
Lady Pirates looked to score some insurance runs in the top of the sixth as
they loaded the bases with two outs before sophomore Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.) forced junior Kelsei
Saunders to fly out to left field to leave three runners stranded.
The
Hornets blew things open in the bottom of the sixth, tying and eventually
taking an 11-5 lead, scoring seven runs on six hits. With the bases loaded, Reid sent a shot to
centerfield that turned into a three-RBI inside the park home run to go up, 9-5,
with one out. The next three batters all
got on base for DSU to load the bases once again. Green took full advantage and doubled to
right field to score Martello and Reeger and take a 11-5 lead.
Beighley
pitched a one-two-three inning in the top of the seventh to close out the game
for the Hornets. The senior pitcher
earned her fourth win of the season, going 1.0-plus innings, giving up three hits
and four runs (all earned).
Hampton
freshman Jailynn Jackson took the loss, going 6.0 innings and giving up 13
hits, 11 runs (nine earned), six walks while striking out two.
In
game one, the Hornets broke up a tie game by scoring three runs on four hits in
the bottom of the fifth to go up 4-1.
The Lady Pirates scored another run in the top of the sixth before
Delaware State responded in the bottom of the frame with another run to take
the final score of 5-2.
Sarris
(7-3) earned her seventh win of the season, going 6.0 innings strong and giving
up eight hits and two runs (both earned) while striking out two. Beighley earned her second save of the year,
pitching 1.0 inning.
Senior
Travonna Bird took the loss for Hampton, pitching 6.0 innings and giving up
five hits, five runs (two earned) and walking three while striking out three.
Reid
finished the day going 4-for-5 with four RBI, four runs, a double, home run and
two stolen bases. Martello went 3-for-5
with one run and two RBI.
The
Hornets hit the road for another three conference games as they travel to
Baltimore, Md. next weekend to take on Morgan State with a doubleheader
beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday. The two
teams will play a single game beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Due to the Easter holiday, there will not be
a game on Sunday.
---DSU SOFTBALL---
