HANOVER, Md. --The Delaware State Hornets took a 3-0 lead in the second inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 7-3 win over the Coppin State Eagles on Friday.
Jack Messmore (1-1) got the win for Delaware State (4-13, 3-4). The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits, allowing five walks and striking out six. E. Bouldin started the ballgame and went two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Delaware State scored three times, all of them coming across on a three-run homer off the bat of J. Current.
After the Eagles rallied to tie the ballgame at three, the Hornets came back to retake the lead in the sixth inning. Delaware State brought home a pair, with one run driven in by B. Timmons' single, which brought the score to 5-3 in favor of the Hornets.
Delaware State held Coppin State scoreless before expanding their lead to 6-3 the following inning. The Hornets scored once on an RBI single off the bat of .
Delaware State held the Eagles scoreless before their offense got in gear the next inning. The Hornets scored a run on K. Bouldin's leadoff homer off J. Neeld, bringing the score to 7-3 in favor of Delaware State. The score remained 7-3 for the rest of the game, as the Hornets coasted to the win. Messmore struck out six Eagles hitters. Delaware State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed three runs across. The Hornets had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Eagles 3-3 in the top of the second. The Hornets out-hit the Eagles at a 10-3 clip. Delaware State pitchers limited Coppin State to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position. Coppin State was led offensively by B. Thompson, who went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Neeld led the Eagles pitching staff, throwing 2.2 innings of one-run ball.
Up Next...
The Hornets will return to action Saturday, March 23 for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.