DOVER, Del. - The offense seemed non-existent this afternoon as the Delaware State University softball team snapped a school-record 11-game winning streak and put a blemish on their undefeated Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record as the Hornets fell, 2-1, to Coppin State at the Hornets' Nest.
Sophomore Ashlyn Campbell (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) walked the first batter of the game but then induced a double play to get two quick outs. The righty wasn't out of trouble, however, as she walked the next batter, gave up two singles and allowed an unearned run to score before the end of the inning. DSU head coach Jeff Savage didn't like what he saw in the circle and put senior Casey Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.) in to pitch in the second inning.
The Eagles looked as though they were going to get more runs on the board in the second, with two singles and an intentional walk before leaving all three runners stranded as Taylor Kairos grounded out to senior shortstop Rachel Carroll (Oxnard, Calif.).
Once again in the third inning, Coppin State had the bases loaded before Beighley got out of a jam to keep the score at just 1-0.
Senior Breanne Parr (Camarillo, Calif.) sent a one-out shot over the right field fence in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. The homer proved to be the Hornets' lone run of the contest.
The Eagles scored the go-ahead run in the sixth as Samantha Denlinger led off with a double to the left field fence. With the bases loaded, Kairos reached on Carroll's third error of the game, which allowed Denlinger to score and give Coppin State the 2-1 advantage. With three runners on, Nicole Boggs flied out to left field to end the frame.
In the DSU portions of the sixth and seventh innings, Paige Arnold, the reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Year, sat all six batters down to give the Eagles the win.
The loss is the Hornets' first in MEAC play as they fall to 8-1 in the conference and 18-12-1 overall. CSU improves to 15-17 overall and 8-4 in the MEAC.
Arnold took the win for the Eagles, moving to 13-11 overall. The senior pitched 7.0 innings, giving up four hits, one run (earned) and one walk while striking out four.
Beighley took the loss for the Hornets, falling to 5-4 on the year. She went 4.0 innings, giving up five hits, one run (unearned) and two walks with one strikeout.
Delaware State hosts Towson on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at the Hornets' Nest.
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