Delaware State University softball team split their opening day on Friday as the team loss to Robert Morris 7-1 in the Lancer Launch Tournament but later in day took care of business as they defeated Norfolk State 4-3.
The fire power from the late game against Norfolk State came from freshman pitcher Tiffany Diao who had two RBIs in the game.
The runs in the game for Delaware State came freshman center fielder Jonah Cunnigan (2) and freshman left fielder Alexis Roberson (2).
There were seven hits in the game for the Hornets in the win and they came from Roberson (2), Diao (2), sophomore second baseman Jasmine Melgoza (1) , Cunnigan (1) and freshman catcher Jaelyn Baker.
Cunnigan also stole a base in the Hornets win.
On the pitching side, sophomore pitcher Brianna Baker had dominating outing in DSU’s win as she went five innings, one run, one earned run, six hits, one walk, four strikeouts and earned the win.
DSU’s freshman pitcher Tiffany Diao came into relieve Baker and she went two innings, two runs, two earned runs, four hits, one home run and earned the save in the win.
Delaware State Gets The Scoring Started In The Third Inning
Both teams pitching did their job in the first two innings as they kept the lineups quiet but that would change in the third inning.
In the third inning, Delaware State would score the first run of the game with freshman third baseman Vanessa Barron reaching a base on a error which would score her teammate Jonah Cunnigan. Cunnigan’s run would give Hornets a 1-0 lead.
DSU would add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning which came from Tiffany Diao who singled up the middle and that scored her teammate Alexis Roberson to increase Hornet’s lead to 2-0.
Norfolk State Wakes Up In Fifth Inning And Slices DSU Lead
Brianna Baker was feeling it through four innings but in the fifth, the DSU pitcher hit a rough patch as Norfolk State would score their first run in the inning.
Norfolk State’s run came from Jade Dixon who singled up the middle which scored her teammate Lilly Potter and that decreased DSU’s lead to 2-1.
Baker’s last inning would be the fifth where she would exit the game with five innings pitched, one run, one earned run, six hits, one walk, four strikeouts and earned the win.
DSU would answer Norfolk State’s score with their own in the bottom of the fifth as Jaelyn Baker grounded out to third base and Jonah Cunnigan would score on a fielding error which increased Hornets lead to 3-1.
Norfolk State Continues To Fight But DSU Holds On For The Win
DSU’s Tiffany Diao came into relieve Brianna Baker in the sixth inning and it did not start so well as she gave up a home run to her first batter.
The home run came from Norfolk State’s Tuli Iosefa which cut the Hornets lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning.
Diao would settle down and Norfolk State was shut out for the rest of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Delaware State would respond again to Norfolk State as Tiffany Diao hit a single to the right of center field and that would score Alexis Roberson to increase their team’s lead to 4-2.
Norfolk State would just not go away as in the top of the seventh, Hunter Halford would hit a single to the shortstop which scored her teammate Shelby DesChamps and decreased DSU lead to 4-3.
Hornets Diao would settle down and stop Norfolk State comeback and seal DSU’s 4-3 win.
Delaware State starts the Liberty University Tournament on February 22nd when their first opponent is Bucknell at 11:00 am ET.
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