Norfolk, Va. (May 20, 0221) ---Delaware State erased an early three-run deficit, but never led in a 9-4 loss to North Carolina Central in the opening game of the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at Marty L. Miller Field today.
N.C. Central will play the winner of today's second semi-final game between Norfolk State and Florida A&M on Fri. at 12:00 p.m., with a berth in the tournament championship round at stake.
The Hornets will face the loser of the Florida A&M / Norfolk State contest on Fri. at 3:30 p.m. in the elimination round.  
N.C. Central, the number one MEAC South seed, scored two runs in each of its last three at bats to regain control after the Hornets tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning.
John Weglarz was three-for-five with two runs batted in, while Miguel Rivera had three hits and a RBI in five at bats to lead Delaware State's 12-hit attack.
Kobe Phillips smacked a two-run homer and Cort Maynard hit a solo shot, while Kokko Figueiredo collected three hits in five at bats to key the Eagles.
NC Central opened the scoring with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning off Delaware State starter Jordan Haddaway. Luis DeLeon and Jacob Raby had run-scoring singles for the Eagles, while the third run in the inning crossed the plate on a passed ball.
The Hornets got on the board with a run in the top of the third inning off NCCU starter Ryan Miller, the 2021 MEAC Pitcher-of-the-Year after posting a 10-0 record during the regular season. Mike Worthington singled to lead off the inning, stole second, and scored from third on a ground out by Rivera to cut the Eagles' lead to 3-1.
Delaware State pulled even in the contest with two runs in the fifth, aided by a miscue from North Carolina Central's defense.  DSU catcher Mason Brewer singled with one out to start the rally. The next batter, Tripp Kimmell, hit a ground ball to second. NCCU's Figueiredo tried to retire Brewer on a force out at second base, but threw the ball away, allowing Brewer to score all the way from first and Kimmell to advance to second. After Kimmell moved to third base on a base hit by Rivera, Weglarz singled to right center to drive in the tying run.
The Hornets had runners at second and first with one out after tying the game, but Miller retired Trey Paige on a strikeout and Krew Bouldin on a grounder to prevent further damage.
The score remained 3-3 until NCCU regained the lead in the sixth. Nick Fajardo doubled with one out and Figueiredo followed with a single down the right field line to score Fajardo, putting the Eagles back in front 4-3. Figueiredo later scored on a wild pitch to give N.C. Central a 5-3 lead.
Delaware State attempted another comeback in the seventh. Kimmell (2 for 4) singled with one out, and advanced to third when Rivera followed with a single to right center. Weglarz then singled to left to score Kimmell, trimming the Eagles' lead to 5-4 with one out. NCCU reliever Caleb McRoy retired the next two batters, Paige and Bouldin, to end the threat.
Phillips hit a two-run blast with one out in the bottom of the seventh to stretch the Eagles' lead to 7-4.
Maynard homered to lead off the NCCU eighth and Cameron Norgren singled in a run later in the inning to close out the scoring.
Haddaway (4-4) was tagged with the loss for the Hornets after eight hits and five runs in 5.1 innings. Sam Murchison (1-3) threw 1.1 innings of relief to earn the win for the Eagles.