Dover, Del (Mar. 1, 2020) --- The Delaware State baseball team opens its 2021 season with a single game at La Salle in Philadelphia on Tuesday (Mar. 2). Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
The Hornets are scheduled to play 42 regular season games, including 32 against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents. DSU will face MEAC rivals Norfolk State and Coppin State in 12 games each, and eight vs. North Carolina Central.  
DSU head coach J.P. Blandin is in his 21^st year at the helm of the program. The winningest coach in the history of Delaware State athletics, Blandin has guided DSU to a school record 450 wins, including a 239-137 mark (.636) in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season games. 
Along the way, he has led DSU to six MEAC Northern Division titles and two MEAC championship game appearances
Although DSU was 3-12 in the pandemic shortened 2020 season, an early season series win vs. non-conference Division I opponent Massachusetts and a victory over 2021 opening day foe La Salle were among the plusses.   
Delaware State's 2021 opening day roster features 14 returning players and 21 newcomers.
As usual, the roster is loaded with former First State high school players. The 2021 squad features a total of 20 Delaware products.
Three Hornets have earned preseason All-MEAC recognition.
Delaware State outfielder Tyler Cunningham has been selected to the 2021 Preseason All  Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference First Team, while Krew Bouldin (1B) and Cole Garey (Utl) have earned second team honors in voting by league head coaches and sports information representatives.
Cunningham (sr.; Trenton, N.J.) was tops on the Hornets with a .367 batting average (11-for-30) during the abbreviated 2020 season. Among his 2020 highlights was a walk-off game-winning single in the Hornets' 1-0 victory over Massachusetts. He was 3-for-3 with a double and run batted in a game against Rhode Island, and 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a run batted in vs. La Salle.
Bouldin (so.; Middletown, Del. ) batted .321 in 13 games in 2020. He was 5-for-7 with three runs scored, two doubles and a RBI in a doubleheader  vs. Rhode Island last season.
Garey (sr.; Felton, Del.), a 2020 preseason All-MEAC Second Team selection batted .286 in last year's abbreviated season.  In 2019, he was  tied for team lead with three home runs and tied for third on the Hornets with 23 RBI. Also in 2019, Garey was 4-for-6 with a home run, double and three RBI in DSU's 9-7 victory at Richmond.
The Hornets will play their first seven games on the road before the home and MEAC opener vs. Coppin State on March 19.
The MEAC Tournament is scheduled to begin May 20 in Norfolk, Va.