Dover, Del. (May 1, 2021) --- Coppin State combined for 26 runs and 28 hits in a seven-inning doubleheader sweep of Delaware State at Soldier Field today. The Eagles took game one 13-12 and completed the sweep with a 13-11 victory in the second game.
The DSU losses overshadowed a big day by Hornet outfielder Mark Herron, who combined for three home runs- including a grand slam-and seven RBI in the two games.
In the opener, Mike Dorcean was two-for-three with a double and three runs batted, while Eddie Javier and Grant Williams drove in two runs each to lead the Eagles.
Delaware State trailed 10-5 in the fifth inning when Herron hit a two-run shot over the field in right field to cut the deficit to three.
The Hornets were behind 13-8 entering their last at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The first three batters reached base in the inning when Herron smacked his second home run in a row to clear the bases, cutting the Coppin State lead to 13-12.
Delaware State's John Weglarz singled with two outs in the seventh, bringing the potential winning run to the plate, but Coppin State reliever Aaron Rea retired Trey Paige on a fly ball to left field to end the game.
Catcher Mason Brewer was two-for-two with two RBI in the opener for the Hornets.
The Hornets were ahead 3-1 when Herron came to the plate for the first time in game two. He drove the first pitch he saw from Coppin State's Tyler Nichol over the fence in left center for his third home run in a row, and stretch the Hornets' lead to 4-1. It marked the first time in modern school history that a Delaware State player homered in three straight at bats.
Coppin State answered with seven runs in the top of the third inning to pull ahead 8-4. CSU's Eddie Javier doubled in three runs and Jordan Hamberg had a two-run single to highlight the big inning.
Delaware State trailed 13-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Hornets cut the Eagles' lead to 13-7 in the seventh when Tyler Cunningham doubled home John Weglarz, who singled to lead off the inning. Jared Gillis followed with a run-scoring single to pull DSU to within six. The next batter, Robert Trujillo, blasted a three-run homer to left. Cunningham and Gillis also scored on the blast, pulling the Hornets to within 13-11.
Herron then reached base on a Coppin State error with one out in the seventh. CSU reliever Luke Baker retired the next two batters to end the game and record his first save of the season.
Javier and Matt Day drove in three runs each to highlight Coppin State's 14-hit attack in game two.
Trujillo was three-for-four with a career-high four runs batted in for the Hornets.
The teams will wrap up the series with a nine-inning single game on Sunday starting at noon.