Hanover, Md. (Apr. 25, 2015) ---Lane DeLeon pitched a two-hit shutout and Charles Dailey drove in five runs to lead Delaware State to a 17-0 win in game one of a MEAC doubleheader at Joe Cannon Stadium today. The Hornets scored 11 runs in the fourth inning en route to a 14-5 win to sweep the twin-bill.
In the opener, DeLeon (fr.; Georgetown, Del./Sussex Tech HS) was one out away from a no-hitter but Coppin State first baseman Lance Montano singled to left for the Eagles' first hit of the game. CSU's Alejando Hernandez followed with a single to center, but Dailey threw out Montano at the plate for the final out of the game to preserve the shutout.
DeLeon (4-4) struck out nine batters in his first career complete game and shutout. He has a team-high 65 Ks this season. DeLeon was tops in the MEAC and 25th among all NCAA Division I pitchers with an 11.1 strikeout-per-nine-inning ratio entering the contest.
Dailey was the hitting star in the opener for the Hornets, going five-for-six with a triple, double and career-high five runs batted in.
David Kimbrough drove in three runs, while Chris Gonzalez, Justin Allen, Austin Bentley and Sam Barber had two hits each for DSU in game one.
The Hornets opened the scoring with a run in the top first inning of Coppin State starter Jhar Devilme. Kimbrough walked and Cameron Onderko was hit by a pitch to put runners on second and first with one out. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, Kimbrough came home with the game's first run on a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez.
DSU added three runs in the second to open up a four-run lead. The big hit in the inning was a two-run double by Dailey, who later scored on a Coppin State error.
The Eagles committed five errors in the opener.
The Hornets opened up a 5-0 lead with a run in the fourth inning. Devin Beverly doubled with one out and later scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Kimbrough.
DSU scored eight runs in the fifth to blow the game open. The Hornets sent 13 batters to the plate, collecting five hits and benefitting from three Coppin State errors in the inning. Dailey and Allen each had two hits and a RBI in the fifth. Barber and Bentley also had run-scoring hits in the inning to help give the Hornets a 13-0 lead.
Dailey tripled in a run and Kimbrough followed with a sac fly in DSUs two-run sixth inning.
The Hornets closed out the scoring with two runs in the seventh. Dailey singled in his fifth run of the game in the inning.
In the seven-inning nightcap, Allen and Jake Bartlett knocked in three runs, while Kimbrough and Onderko drove in two each for the Hornets. Allen and Kimbrough each had three hits in the contest.
DSU opened the game two scoring with a run in the first on a Coppin State error. The Eagles answered with two in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Allen doubled in two runs in the third and the Eagles scored one in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
The Hornets scored a season-high 11 runs in the fourth inning to seize control of the game. The Hornets had seven hits in the inning. The rally started when Bartlett was hit by a pitch with one out. He doubled in three runs in his second at bat of the inning. Onderko had two run-scoring singles, while Kimbrough drove in runs on a single and sacrifice fly in the fourth. Allen knocked in his third run of the game on a one-out single in the inning. The Hornets also scored runs on bases loaded walks to Chris Gonzalez and Jaylen Zielecki. Also , Austin Bentley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to produce a run.
Zach Cooney, the second of four DSU pitchers, was credited with the win to improve to 2-1 this season.
DSU improved to 11-25 overall and 10-10 in the MEAC with the sweep.
The Hornets and Eagles will wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday. Start time is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Hanover, Md.
