Dover, Del. (Feb. 13, 2020) --- The Delaware State softball team will take to the field for the first time under new head coach Jeff Franquet at Coastal Carolina's Residence Inn Battle at the Beach this weekend.
The Hornets will compete in the first two games of the tournament, taking on Northern Illinois in the opener on Fri. (Feb. 14) at 10:30 a.m.
DSU will face Jacksonville State in the second tournament contest on Friday at 12:45 p.m.
The Hornets will also battle Coastal Carolina on Sat. at 2:00 p.m. and College of Charleston at 6:30 p.m.
Delaware State will wrap-up the tourney with Sunday (Feb. 16) games against Northern Illinois (9:15 a.m.) and Coastal Carolina (1:15 p.m.).
Franquet (pronounced  Frank-ee)  was hired by the Hornets' last summer.
He brought 14 years of collegiate head coach experience to DSU, highlighted by a historic four-year run at Central Connecticut University, where he is the school's all-time leader with 115 wins.
After inheriting a team that posted nine wins the previous season in 2009, he led the Blue Devils to school record totals in each of the next four years.
Franquet takes over a Delaware State team that posted a 10-32 overall record (7-8 MEAC) in 2019, its fewest wins since the 1999 season (8-29).
Delaware State has been picked to finish eighth in the 11-team MEAC regular season race.
Defending champ Bethune-Cookman edged out arch rival Florida A&M for the top spot in the poll.   
Norfolk State, Howard and North Carolina Central round out the top five in the poll. 
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 2020 SOFTBALL OUTLOOK
Delaware State second baseman Jasmine Melgoza (sr.; 5-2; Huntington Beach, Cal.)  is a 2020 Preseason All-MEAC  Softball First Team, while Hornet shortstop Jordan Casey (sr.; 5-3; Fredericksburg, Va.)  and third baseman Jade King (so.; 5-10; Torrence, Cal. ) are second team selections.
A two-time All-MEAC First Team pick (2018-19), Melgoza was tops on the Hornets and fourth among all conference players with a .391 overall batting average, highlighted by a .412 mark in conference regular season games during the 2019 season.
She was also fourth in the league in hits (52), tied for second in doubles (12), fifth in total bases (72) and tied for third in triples (3) last year.
In addition, Melgoza was fifth among all NCAA Div. I players in toughest to strikeout, fanning just three times in 133 at bats (1 strikeout per 44.3 at bats) as a junior.
Her .973 fielding percentage was also tops on the Hornets in 2019, committing just five errors in 185 total chances. 
Melgoza was an All-MEAC Second Team selection as a freshman in 2017.
Casey was fourth among Hornet regulars with a .288 batting average and 32 hits, while ranking third on club with 14 RBI.
King batted .342 while competing in 27 of the Hornets' 42 games as a freshman in 2019. She was also stellar at the hot corner in her rookie season, posting a .950 fielding percentage on 101 chances.    

PITCHING
Right-hander Briana Baker (jr.; 5-5; Waldorf, Md.) is in her second season with the Hornets after transferring from UMBC in 2019. Last season, Baker was tops on the Hornets with seven wins (7-19) and 16 complete games.
Righty Tiffany Diao (so.; 5-5; Trumbell, Conn.) returns after competing as the Hornets' No. 2 pitcher in 2019.  
Yanique Spencer (r-fr.; 5-7; Long Island, N.Y.) is also expected to join the pitching staff, in addition to logging time at first base, after sitting out last season due to injury.  

CATCHER
Jaelyn Baker (so.; 5-9; Waldorf, Md.), Briana's sister, emerged as one of the MEAC's best back stops as a true freshman in 2019. She was tops on the Hornets with three home runs and 27 RBI, while ranking third on the team with a .292 average, in her rookie season.

Taylor Leydig (so.; 5-4; Gainesville, Fla.) is expected to again back up Baker at catcher, while newcomer Alaena Selden (jr.; 5-4; Fairfield, Cal.) also brings experience behind the dish and the infield to the team.  

INFIELD
The trio of Melgoza (2B), Casey (SS) and King (3B) gives the Hornets a solid core in the infield. Also, Vanessa Baron (jr.; 5-4; Riverside, Cal.) is an experienced first baseman. Last season, she batted .216 but was second on the team with 15 runs batted in. She batted .221 with a team-high three triples and .984 fielding percentage in 40 games as a freshman in 2018.  

Leydig and Spencer are also likely to compete at first base for the Hornets this season, while newcomer Felicity Munoz (fr.; 5-3; Allentown, Pa.) will compete for playing time in the infield.

OUTFIELD
Speedsters Kaleigh Berry (jr.; 5-5; Centreville, Va.), Jonah Cunnigan (so.; 5-6; St. Leonard, Md.) and Alexis Roberson (so.; 5-6; Germantown, Md.) can cover a lot of ground, while Carissa Thorne (so.; 5-4; Dover, Del.) is also an experienced outfielder. Berry was unable to compete in 2019 due to injury, but batted .310 with 13 RBI and six stolen bases in seven attempts in 31 games during the 2018 season.
 
Cunnigan batted .289 and was 17-for-18 on stolen base attempts as a freshman in 2019, while  Roberson led the Hornets with 15 bases on balls in her rookie season.

Newcomer Jaelyn Gorham (so.; 5-10; Ashburn, Va.) has been added to the squad for outfield depth.

Three newcomers listed as "utility players" on the roster also join the Hornets this season.
Caitlyn (jr.; 5-9; Palm Bay, Fla.) hit 12 home runs and was an all-conference selection at Eastern Florida State College before enrolling at DSU.
Local product Andrea Johnson (so.; 5-6; Middletown, Del.) was a star at Middletown High School before competing for a season at Barry University.
Gabby Toney (fr.; 5-6; St. Leonard, Md.) was a three-time All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference selection at Calvert Hall HS.
   
SCHEDULE
In addition to the season-opening tournament at Coastal Carolina,  the Hornets will compete in tourneys at UNC Charlotte, Norfolk State, Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference and UNC-Wilmington.

DSU begins MEAC competition with a home series against North Carolina Central March 28-29.
The MEAC has returned to a single division format in 2019 after operating with two divisions since 2011.