Dover, Del. (Apr. 16, 2021) --- Cole Bates threw eight strong innings and Trey Paige had two hits, including a homer, and three runs batted in, to lead Delaware State to an 8-3 win over North Carolina Central in the opener of a four-game MEAC series at Soldier Field today.
The MEAC North leading Hornets won their fifth straight game to improve to 8-4 in the division and 10-12 overall.
Bates struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked just one, while allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits to improve to 2-2 on the season. He struck out the side in the second inning and fanned two in the third, fifth and eighth innings.    
The Hornets scored all their runs off North Carolina Central ace and MEAC strikeout leader Austin Vernon, who allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, while striking out eight and walking one in 7.1 innings.
Delaware State got to Vernon early to take control of the game.
Miguel Rivera singled to lead off the DSU first and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by John Weglarz. Paige followed with a double to left center to score Rivera for the game's first run. The next batter, Cole Garey, singled to center to score Paige, giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead. Garey was one-for-two at the plate to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
Rivera and Paige also played key roles in DSU's two-run third. Rivera singled to lead off the inning, and two batters later, Paige blasted a Vernon fast ball over the fence in dead center for his fourth home run of the season to put the Hornets in front 4-0.
DSU stretched its lead to 5-0 when catcher Mason Brewer smacked a two-out solo homer, his first of the season, off Vernon in the fourth.
North Carolina Central scored two unearned runs off Bates with two outs in the fifth and added a run in the eighth to cut the Hornets lead to 5-3.
Delaware State answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to close out the scoring. Jared Gillis and Krew Bouldin had run-scoring singles to highlight the rally.
DSU reliever Chandler Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless ninth inning in relief of Bates.
The Hornets and Eagles will continue the series with a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday, and close out the series with a single game on Sunday, also starting at 12:00 p.m.