Box Score Norfolk, Va. (May 21, 2022) --- Delaware State was three outs away from its first MEAC baseball championship in 33 years, but Coppin State scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to claim its first title since 1995 with an 18-12 victory over the Hornets at Marty L. Miller Field today.  
Delaware State led 11-8 after seven innings and 11-10 after eight before the Eagles stormed back. Coppin State sent 14 batters to the plate in the top of the ninth, collecting six hits including two for extra bases. Josh Hankins singled in two runs to put the Eagles in front 12-11. Sebastian Sarabia also singled in two and Mike Dorcean had a three-run double in the ninth to stretch Coppin State's lead to 17-11.
The Hornets came from behind twice in the game before the Eagles' late surge.
Delaware State trailed 5-0 before scoring a run in the second and four in the fourth to tie the game. The Hornets led  for the first time, 6-5, on a single by Miguel Rivera in the fifth. Trey Paige drove in a run on a sac fly later in the inning to give Delaware State a 7-5 lead.
After Coppin State put three on the board in the seventh to regain the lead, the Hornets answered with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning to lead by three.
Rivera, Paige and Krew Bouldin each singled in seventh inning runs and Brady Daniels drove in one on a sac fly to put the Hornets ahead 11-8.
Alan Alonso was 2 for 5 with four RBI, while Rivera (3 for 5), Paige (2 for 5), Bouldin (1 for 3) and Daniels (1 for 4) drove in two runs each for Delaware State.
Delaware State was making its first MEAC Tournament finals appearance since 2012, and third under head coach J.P. Blandin, who also led the team to the runner-up spot in 2004.
Earlier Saturday, Evan Harris pitched a nine-inning complete game, tying his career-high with 11 strike outs,  in a 4-3 victory over Coppin State to force the winner-take-all championship contest.
Alonso, Bouldin, Harris and catcher Robert Trujillo were named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.