Dover, Del. (Apr. 15, 2021) --- It'll be strength against strength when the surging Delaware State baseball team takes on North Carolina Central in a four-game MEAC series at Soldier Field this weekend.
The Hornets have won their last four games to improve to 9-12 overall and move into first place in the MEAC Northern Division with a 7-4 record. Norfolk State is just behind DSU with a 7-5 Northern Division record.
NC Central split four games with rival North Carolina A&T to stand at 12-11 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC Southern Division, two games behind division leader Florida A&M (6-2).
Delaware State is No. 1 in the MEAC with a .300 batting average entering the weekend. DSU's John  Weglarz is tops in the MEAC with a .419 batting average (31-for-74). Weglarz is also the team leader in hits (31) and  runs batted in (20),  and tied for first on the Hornets with six doubles.
DSU's Trey Paige is batting .357 (25-for-70) and is tied for the MEAC lead with five home runs, while Miguel Rivera is third on the club with .346 average  and tied for the team high with six doubles.
Delaware State's Cole Garey brings a 10-game hit streak and .343 average into the weekend series.
The Hornet pitching staff has turned in some solid performances of late, including strong starts by Jordan Haddaway and Cole Bates, while Ryan Rigby pitched four shutout innings of relief in a recent outing.
DSU closer Chandler Fitzgerald is tied for second in the MEAC with four saves.
North Carolina Central has the top pitching staff in the league. Eagle hurlers have combined for 210 strikeouts in 185.1 innings pitched this season.
NCCU ace Austin Vernon is 2-1 with a 1.52 earned run average and a MEAC-high 54 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched.
Righty Ryan Miller is 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He has 39 Ks and just 10 walks in 36 innings pitched.
The Hornets and Eagles are scheduled to play single games on Friday (Apr. 16) at 3:00 and Sunday (Apr. 18) at 12:00 p.m.,  and a doubleheader in Saturday beginning at noon.