(Baltimore, Md.) – Continuing its seven-game road swing, the Delaware State softball team (19-10, 5-1 MEAC) routed the Morgan State Bears (3-14, 0-5 MEAC) in Sunday afternoon's doubleheader with a 12-2 victory in game one, followed by a five-inning 8-0 win to complete the sweep.
To open the day, the Hornets trailed by one after the first until infielder Danielle Velez (1) tied it with a leadoff home run. Next inning, Velez gave her squad the lead with an infield RBI-single to bring in outfielder Jessica Madrid.
As the game progressed, Delaware State made it a 4-1 ball game in the fourth with a Madrid RBI-double and a Sandy Hawthorne RBI-single in back-to-back at-bats.
The Bears, meanwhile, managed to cut the deficit in half during the fifth, but the Hornets exploded in the sixth to score eight runs on four hits and one MSU error, headlined by outfielder Nicole Gazzola driving in the two runs with a double to left field.
At game's end, DSU finished with 14 hits, including eight players totaling at least one and five registering two or more. Additionally, the Hornets matched a season-high in RBI (11). Leading the way was Gazzola going 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs, whereas Madrid went 2-for-3 with three runs, two walks and an RBI. Hawthorne, on the other hand, turned in a 2-for-2 performance at the plate with three RBI, a walk and a run scored.
Pitching wise, freshman Vanessa Ciocatto (7-4) picked up the win allowing five hits, no walks and tallying three K's.
In game two, after taking a 2-0 lead in the third, the Hornets scored five runs on four hits and one MSU error, highlighted by infielder Rochelle Sablay's two-run RBI-single.
To complete the shutout victory in the fifth, starter Rachel Meagley (4-3) and the rest of the Hornet defense shunned Morgan State in order. For the game, Meagley allowed four hits, two walks and fanned five MSU batters.
Offensively, Delaware State churned out 10 hits with Gazzola going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Hawthorne, meanwhile, went 2-for-2 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will face Virginia this Wednesday in a doubleheader (3 p.m. – 5 p.m.) to wrap up its seven-game road swing.
