Dover, Del. (Mar. 23, 2019) --- Kayla Brown singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to lift Coppin State to a 3-2 victory over Delaware State in the MEAC North softball opener for each team today. The score was 2-2 when Brown single home Patricia Soria from second base with two outs off Hornet starter Brianna Baker.
Coppin State scored first with two runs in the top of the third inning. Brown singled in the first run and Nia Bowe had a run-scoring hit in the inning for the Eagles.
The Hornets tied the game with two runs in the fourth. Catcher Jaelyn Baker started the rally with a one-out single. Jade King followed with an infield single to put runners at second and first. The runners moved up a base on a ground out by Alexis Roberson. Baker scored the Hornets' first run and King advanced to third on an infield single by Vanessa Barron. While Sabrina Quarles was at the plate, Barron broke for second base and was caught in a run down. King sprinted home from third with the tying run while Barron was in the run down.
The game remained tied until the Coppin State seventh.
Coppin State starter Madison Didion (3-4) pitched a complete game to earn the win. She allowed five hits and the two DSU runs, while striking out three and walking one.
Baker (1-9) took the loss for the Hornets.
Second baseman Jasmine Melgoza had two of Delaware State's five hits in the game.
The Hornets (3-16; 0-1 MEAC) and Eagles (3-12; 1-0 MEAC) will wrap up the three-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday. Game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the DSU softball field.
