Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Conway, S.C. (Feb. 14, 2020) --- Northern Illinois scored five runs in the top of the first inning and held on for an 8-5 win over Delaware State in the Hornets' season opener at the Coastal Carolina Battle at the Beach today.
DSU also fell to Jacksonville State 10-0 in a tournament contest later in the day.
In the Northern Illinois contest, the Huskies opened the scoring with five runs off Delaware State's Brianna Baker in the top of the first.
Katie Keller doubled in the first run of the game and Kira Mickelson had a run-scoring single to highlight the inning for the Huskies. NIU also scored a run on a Delaware State error and two steals of home in the first.
The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the second on a two-out single by Kayleigh Berry. DSU missed an opportunity to pull closer when the inning ended with the bases loaded.
Northern Illinois got the run back in the top of the third inning and added another in the fourth to open up a 7-1 lead.
Delaware State cut into the Huskies' lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hannah Crumblish doubled in pinch runner Jaelyn Gorham for the first run, and Crumblish later stole home for the second run of the inning to cut the Huskies' lead to 7-3.
The Hornets pulled to within 7-4 when Caitlyn Meyer doubled to lead off the sixth and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Vanessa Barron.
Delaware State trailed 8-4 entering their final at bat in the bottom of the seventh. Jasmine Melgoza walked to lead off the inning. Jordan Casey and Alaena Seldon followed with singles to load the bases. Melgoza scored on a sac fly by Jaelyn Baker to pull the Hornets to within 8-5.  DSU had the potential tying run at the plate when Crumblish flied out to end the game.
The Hornets were only outhit 12-11 in the game, but the Hornets were plagued by four errors.
Crumblish, Meyer, Seldon and Berry had two hit each for DSU.
Brianna Baker allowed all eight runs (six earned) and eight hits, while striking out three and walking two in the complete effort for the Hornets.
In the Jacksonville State contest, the Gamecocks scored at least two runs in each inning, while holding Delaware State to three hits.
The game was called after the Hornets were out in the top of the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule.
Jacksonville State's Megan Fortner drove in four runs and Karen Mosely two to lead the Gamecocks' 11-hit attack.
JSU scored two runs in the first and second innings and added four runs in the third to take an 8-0 lead. The Gamecocks closed out the scoring with two runs in the fourth.
Crumblish, Seldon and Felicity Munoz each singled to account for the Hornets' three hits in the game.
Starter Andrea Johnson allowed eight runs, although only three were earned, and nine hits in 2.2 innings to suffer the loss for DSU.
The Hornets had three errors in the Jacksonville State contest, giving them seven in the two games.
"We were able to generate some offense in the opener, but the miscues in the field were a big factor on the game," said Delaware State first-year head coach Jeff Franquet. "I believe we have the potential to  hit well this season. Our execution will get better as we get more games under our belt. We'll go through some growing pains early in the season, but showed some good signs in the losses."  
Delaware State will resume tournament play with games against Coastal Carolina and the College of Charleston on Saturday.