Washington, D.C. (Mar. 13, 2021)---The Delaware State softball team is off to a good start to its conference schedule, defeating Howard 3-1 and 4-3 in extra innings in the opening MEAC North doubleheader for both teams today.
In the opener, Maikyla Nelson tossed a five-hit complete game and Caitlyn Meyer drove in all the runs in the Hornets' 3-1 win.
Nelson scattered five singles, while striking out two and walking one to earn her first Delaware State victory (1-1).
Meyer was two-for-three at the plate, including DSU's first home run of the season, along with a double. She drove in the first run of the game on a one-out double, driving home Jasmine Melgoza (gr.), who singled to start the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicolette Barranger.
Melgoza, a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, was two-for-three with two runs scored in her first contest of the season.
After Howard tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second inning, the Hornets regained the lead for good in their next at bat.
Melgoza singled to lead off the Delaware State third and advanced to second on a stolen base. She was still at second with one out when Meyer blasted a homer over the fence in center field to give the Hornets a 3-1 lead.
It was all Nelson the rest of the way. She allowed just three hits and did not allow a runner past second base the rest of the way.
In the nightcap, Delaware State scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice ground ball by Madison Burnite in the top of the eighth inning.
The Hornets led 3-1 before the Bison scored two in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Delaware State opened the game two scoring with two runs with two outs in the top of the third inning. Jonah Cunnigan singled with two outs and Meyer followed with her second homer of the day, a bomb to left center, to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
After Howard cut DSU's lead in half with a run in the fourth, the Hornets got it back in the sixth. Jaelyn Baker doubled to lead off the Hornet sixth and pinch runner Gabriel Garcia scored on a one-out single by Alaena Selden to stretch DSU's lead to 3-1.
Aided by a Delaware State error, Howard scored two runs with two outs in the last of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3.  
Cunnigan had three of the Hornets' 12 hits, while Melgoza, Baker, Hannah Crumblish and Selden tallied two each in the nightcap.
Melgoza was five-for-eight at the plate, while Meyer drove in five of DSU's seven runs in the twin-bill.
McKenzie Yurcaba was the winning pitcher for Delaware State in game two, going all eight innings to record her first win at DSU.