(Dover, Del.) – The Delaware State softball team (16-21, 10-4 MEAC) continued its winning ways in Saturday afternoon's doubleheader, combining for 25 runs and 25 hits against the visiting Howard Bison (14-26, 8-9 MEAC) to take both games, 13-6 and 12-7.

With these victories, the Hornets extended their season-long winning streak to nine, in addition to defeating the Bison for the 11th and 12th consecutive times.

In the opener, trailing 2-0 in the first frame, the Hornets took a one-run advantage with RBI-singles by infielder Jordan Stamps and freshman Dominique Little.  In the fourth, with the game now knotted at three, HU scored three runs on two hits, capped off by outfielder Deja Henderson driving in a run with a sac-fly RBI.  However, DSU regained the lead later in the inning with a six-run output, headlined by a Stamps two-run RBI-double and outfielder Nkili Matthews driving in a run with a double of her own. Still leading 9-6, Delaware State put the finishing touches on its eighth consecutive win in the sixth by scoring four runs, capped off by catcher Sandy Hawthorne driving in a pair scores with a double to left.

At game's end, outfielder Nicole Gazzola, Stamps, infielder Danielle Velez and Little all tallied two hits, while Stamps finished with a game-high four RBI.  Gazzola, who also stole two bases, scored a game-high three runs and extended her hit streak to a season-high 12 games. In the circle, reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week Tara Tursellino (11-14), recorded seven strikeouts, despite allowing nine hits and five walks in the winning effort.

Game two, meanwhile, started off with a bang, beginning with DSU freshman sensation Vanessa Washington (8), who was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for the second straight time on Monday, connecting for a two-run homer in the first inning.  In the following frame with the bases loaded, HU leadoff man Al'Asia Davis (2) connected for a two-out home run over the right field fence off starter Jessica Shalongo (5-7).  Coming in, Davis led the conference in runs (42) and doubles (17), while sitting second in batting (.446), on-base percentage (.551) and hits (50).  

After DSU cut the deficit to one in the third with a Washington sac-fly RBI, the Hornets exploded for six runs on five hits with the help of two HU errors, as infielder Chloe Oro (single) and Hawthorne (single) drove in two scores each. The Bison answered in the following frame with a three-run output to make it a 9-7 ball game, highlighted by a Jasmine Gammons two-run RBI-double.  Nevertheless, Delaware State answered with Hawthorne (2), who was named MEAC Player of the Week on Monday, hitting a two-run bomb to center, followed by Little driving in Velez from second with a single up the middle during the sixth to put the Hornets up by five.

When the two squads shook hands, every Hornet in the starting lineup record a hit, led by Hawthorne going 3-for-4 with three runs scored.  Oro and Stamps, meanwhile, tallied two hits, whereas Gazzola pushed her hitting streak to 13 with a 1-for-5 effort. Pitching wise, Shalongo picked up the victory, despite allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs and two walks in four innings of work.  Replacing Shalongo was Tursellino (1), who recorded her first save of the season surrendering two hits, no runs and fanning two HU batters.