Dover, Del. (Apr. 30, 2021) --- Miguel Rivera hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 10^th inning to give Delaware State an 8-7 victory over Coppin State in the opener of a four-game MEAC series in blustery conditions at Soldier Field this afternoon.
DSU trailed 7-6 with two outs and bases empty in the 10^th  when Mark Herron singled up the middle off Coppin State reliever Giovanni Canales to keep the Hornets alive. Rivera followed with a towering shot over the fence in left center to score the tying and winning runs, setting off a raucous celebration with his teammates at home plate.
The comeback was the fourth of the game for the Hornets, who also trailed 2-0, 5-3 and 6-5 in the contest.
Delaware State tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Rivera singled to lead off the inning and later scored on an error by the Eagles.
The Hornets took their first lead of the game, 3-2, on a two-out single by catcher Mason Brewer.
Coppin State regained the lead, 5-3, when Conner Walker smacked a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. After the home run by Walker, the Eagles loaded the bases with none out, but Delaware State reliever Peter Carreca retired the next three batters in order to keep the Eagles from adding to their lead.
The Hornets answered with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Cole Garey doubled in the first run of the inning and Krew Bouldin followed with another double to even the score at 5-5.
Delaware State trailed 6-5 with two outs in the last of the ninth inning when pinch hitter Robert Trujillo singled on a high chopper to the left side to score Rivera from third base with the tying run.
Herron had a team-high three hits for the Hornets (3-for-5), while Garey and Rivera tallied hits two each.
The win was DSU's second in a row and second walk-off victory against Coppin State this season. The Hornets scored five runs in their last at bat to defeat the Eagles 13-12 on March 21 at Soldier Field.
The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon and concludes with a single game on Sunday, also starting at 12:00 p.m.