Dover, Del. (Apr. 17, 2016) --- Darnel Maisonet's infield single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in the winning run in Delaware State's 10-9 victory over Coppin State in a MEAC contest at Soldier Field  today.  The Hornets swept the three-game series to improve to 9-26 overall and 9-5 in the MEAC. The Eagles fell to 9-26 and 6-9.

The score was 9-9 when DSU batted in the ninth. Pinch hitter Niko Cribb singled off Coppin State reliever Jahmon Taylor to lead off the inning. Taylor was replaced on the mound by Delvin McFadden. Pinch runner Rich Rountree moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Barber. Rountree then took third on a wild pitch by McFadden. After Devin Beverly popped up to short for the second out of the inning, Todd Henry was intentionally walked to give the Hornets runners at third and first. Lefty Andrew O'Dwyer was brought in to pitch for Coppin State.  O'Dwyer walked the first batter he faced, Kwestin Smith, to load the bases. Maisonet followed with a line drive that struck the knee of O'Dwyer before rolling to the right side of the infield, allowing Rountree to cross the plate with the winning run.

The Hornets blew a six-run lead before bouncing back to win the contest. DSU opened the scoring with six runs on just two hits in the second inning. Smith and Austin Bentley had run-scoring singles in the inning, while the Hornets also tallied two runs on Coppin State errors, a fielder's choice ground out and a balk.

The Eagles scored two runs off DSU starter Lane DeLeon in the third to cut the deficit to four.

Coppin State came all the way back with four runs in the fifth off DeLeon to tie the game. George Dragon hit a solo homer and Colin Dower's three-run double tied the score at 6-6.

The Eagles took the lead 7-6 on a two-out single by Jamar Criss off Hornet reliever Terry Godfrey in the sixth.

Delaware State answered with three runs without benefit of a hit in the last of the sixth to regain the lead.  The Hornets tied the score at 7-7 when Bentley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. DSU regained the lead when Jake Bartlett drew a bases loaded walk, and pulled ahead 9-7 on a sacrifice fly by Sam Barber.

Coppin State bounced right back with two runs off Hornet reliever Cole Davis in the seventh to tie the score at 9-9.

The Eagles outhit the Hornets 12-6. Maisonet and Bentley had two hits each for DSU while Dower was three-for-four with three RBI for Coppin State.

Travis Dill (1-1), DSU's fourth pitcher of the game, threw two scoreless innings to earn the win. Taylor (0-1) suffered the loss for Coppin State.

The Hornets return to action on Tuesday (Apr.  19) at Rutgers.  Game time is 3 p.m. in New Brunswick, N.J.

DSU returns to MEAC play with a three-game series at UMES next weekend.