Dover, Del. (Mar. 22, 2015) ---Chris Gonzalez, Justin Allen and Tyler Ramsey drove in four runs each to lead Delaware State to an 18-13 victory over Coppin State at Soldier Field today, completing a sweep of the MEAC North series for the Hornets.
Earlier in the day, DSU scored the winning run on a Coppin State error in a 15-14 victory in the completion of a game that began on Saturday.
The Hornets have won three straight and four of their last five games to improve to 5-11 overall and 5-1 in the MEAC North.
In today's regularly scheduled game, Delaware State posted season-highs in runs and hits (20).
The Hornets trailed 2-1 before scoring five times in the fourth to take the lead. Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Ramsey singled in a run in the inning.
Coppin State answered with four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 6-6.
The Hornets regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Jaylen Zielecki led off the inning by reaching base on an error, and scored on a ground out by Ramsey.
The Eagles responded with six-spot in the sixth to open up a 12-7 lead. Coppin State had just one hit, but benefited from two DSU errors in the inning.
Delaware State got back into the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Allen doubled in a run and Zielecki had a run-scoring single before while Ramsey singled in two to pull the Hornets to within 12-11.
The Hornets pulled ahead 13-12 when Allen tripled in two runs in the seventh.
Coppin evened the game on a solo homer by William Brown in the top of the eighth inning.
DSU answered with five runs in the eighth to take the lead for good. Kwestin Smith drove in the first run of the inning on an infield single. Cameron Onderko tripled in two runs and Gonzalez added more insurance with a two-run homer in the inning.
Gonzalez was four-for-four at the plate, while Onderko was three-for-five with three runs batted in. Allen, Zielecki and Ramsey collected three hits each.
Zielecki (1-1) also pitched the final two innings to earn the win for the Hornets. He allowed one hit and a run, while striking out three batters without allowing a walk.
In the completion of Saturday's suspended game earlier in the day, Devin Beverly scored the winning on a walk-off error by the Eagles in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Coppin State had tied the score at 14-14 with two runs in the top of the seventh.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer by George Dragon.
The Hornets answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
Charles Dailey led off the inning with a homer. Onderko followed with a single, and Gonzalez hit a two-run shot over the fence in right field to give DSU a 3-2 lead. Allen tripled later in the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramsey to stretch the Hornets' lead to two.
The Hornets led 5-3 after the teams traded runs in the second inning.
DSU scored three runs in the third to open up an 8-3 lead. The first run scored on a bases loaded walk and other two on a Coppin State error.
The Eagles took advantage of some wildness by Hornet pitchers to regain the lead in the middle innings.
Coppin State scored five runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 12-8 lead.
Delaware State responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull to within a run. Allen and Ron Farley had run-scoring singles and Zielecki was credited with a RBI on a bases loaded walk in the inning.
The Hornets regained the lead, 14-12, when Farley slugged a three-run homer with one out in the sixth.
Farley was three-for-four with four runs batted in, while Gonzalez had three hits and three RBI in five at bats in the contest. Dailey also collected three hits and scored four times.
Garrett Coverdale (1-0) got the last two outs in the Coppin State seventh to earn the win for the Hornets.
The teams combined for 73 runs (41 by DSU) and 83 hits in the three-game series..
Gozalez was a combined seven-for-nine with two homers and seven RBI in the two games to raise his season average to a team-high .429. He's tied or second on the Hornets with three home runs and 13 runs batted in.
The Hornets return to action with a single game against visiting Towson this Tues. (Mar. 24). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Soldier Field.
