Dover, Del. (Feb. 19, 2022) --- The Daniel Stockdale era as head coach of the Delaware State softball team begins this weekend with a home series against the University of Hartford.
The Hornets are Hawks are scheduled to play two games on sat. (Feb. 19) beginning at 12:00 p.m., and wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday (Feb. 20) at the Delaware State softball field.
Stockdale was appointed as the Hornets' head softball coach last August.
In more than seven years of college coaching, Stockdale has contributed to two conference regular season championships, one conference tournament title and NCAA regional appearance. In addition, he's guided two ABCA/Rawlings All-America and one NFCA Softball All-America honorees.  
Stockdale most recently served on the collegiate level as an Assistant Softball Coach at Georgia State University in Atlanta from 2017 to 2020, working primarily with the pitching staff during his tenure with the Panthers.
While at Georgia State, Stockdale was an integral part of team's late-season run to claim the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. He began working with the Panther pitching staff at midseason in 2018 and helped lower the team's ERA by more than a run to 3.11 in the final 25 games of the campaign. Junior pitcher Mandy Chance went 9-3 with a 2.64 ERA during that 25-game stretch.
Stockdale takes over a Delaware State team that was 11-20 overall and 9-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference during the pandemic-shortened 2021. The Hornets came up short in qualifying for the 2021 four-team MEAC post-season tournament.
Delaware State has been picked to finish fifth in the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season race, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information representatives.
Hornet outfielder Johan Cunnigan (sr.; Corona, Cal.) has been selected to the preseason All-MEAC First Team.
Cunnigan, a 2021 All-MEAC Second Team selection, batted .309, and led the Hornets in hits (30), runs scored (20) and triples (3) last season.
Veteran infielder /designated hitter Jaelyn Baker also returns. Baker batted .287 and was second on the Hornets with 12 RBI last season.
The 2022 Hornets will also feature incoming transfers Joie Raybourn (catcher), Sandrea Hord (catcher/infield) and Emma Glawson (OF/P).
Delaware State begins its 2022 MEAC schedule Mar. 19-20 at Maryland-Eastern Shore.