Washington, D.C. (Mar. 14, 2021) --- Freshman Maikyla Nelson turned in another impressive pitching performance to lead Delaware State to a 4-2 victory over Howard in game one of a Sunday doubleheader.
The Bison won game two 5-3 to avoid a four-game sweep of the weekend series by the Hornets.
In the opener, Nelson earned her second complete game victory in two days over the Bison.  She allowed just two runs in the sixth inning, while striking out three and walking one to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Hannah Crumblish and Alaena Selden drove in two runs each to key the Hornet offense in the opener.
Delaware State opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Jonah Cunnigan started the rally with a one-out  single. Caitlyn Meyer followed with a single and Jaelyn Baker was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Crumblish then singled through the right side to score Cunnigan with the game's first run. Meyer scored the second run of the inning on a ground out by Selden.
The Hornets stretched their lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the fifth. Cunnigan reached base on an error to lead off the inning and Meyer was hit by a pitch to put DSU runners on second and first with none out.  After each runner moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Baker, Crumblish drove home Cunnigan on a fielder's choice to give the Hornets a 3-0 advantage. Meyer again scored on a ground out by Selden to close out the DSU scoring.
Nelson allowed a leadoff single in the Howard seventh, but retired the next three batters to seal the win.
Crumblish and Nicolette Barranger had two hits each for the Hornets in the opener.
In the nightcap, Delaware State trailed 5-0 before scoring three runs in the sixth to get back into the game.
Cunnigan was again in the middle of DSU's rally. She singled to lead off the sixth and moved to second on a Howard error. Meyer followed with a single to score Cunnigan to get the Hornets on the board and cut the Bison lead to 5-1. Baker then smashed a two-run homer, with Meyer scoring on the hit, to pull Delaware State to within two runs. The home run was Baker's first of the season.
Howard retired the next three DSU batters in the sixth and set down the Hornets in order in the seventh to seal the win. 
Delaware State was outhit 9-6 in game two.    
Meyer was five-for-12 (.417)  with five runs batted in and five runs scored in the four-game series for the Hornets.
Delaware State (5-5; 3-1 MEAC) continues MEAC play with a four-game series at home against Coppin State next weekend.