Preview: Delaware State at Coppin State

ELKRIDGE, Md. (Interstat) — The Delaware State Hornets visit the Coppin State Eagles on Thursday afternoon at Joe Cannon Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. under a forecast of 72 degrees and rain.

Delaware State (7-39) enters the Northeast matchup after a dramatic 8-7 win at New Haven on Sunday. Right-hander Chase Snavely worked six innings, allowing no hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts to earn the victory. Snavely, who has logged a mix of starts and relief appearances this season, also threw five innings in a loss to Delaware on April 28 (9 hits, 4 earned runs, 7 strikeouts) and tossed a scoreless inning at Long Island on April 24. His inconsistency — including a 1.1-inning outing against Central Connecticut in which he surrendered five earned runs — makes him a key variable for a Hornets staff that has struggled overall.

Coppin State (10-35) enters after a 12-11 win at Wagner on Sunday, fueled by second baseman Jordan Treadwell’s 3-for-5 day with a home run and four RBIs. Treadwell has been productive lately, going 3-for-4 with two homers and two RBIs in a loss to New Haven on May 3, and 3-for-4 with an RBI in a win over the same team on May 2. However, he has also endured cold spells, including back-to-back 0-for-5 games against Wagner on May 8 and May 9. The Eagles have dropped nine of their last 11 games, but their offense showed life in the series at Wagner.

Both teams are in the bottom tier of the Northeast standings. Delaware State has lost nine of its last 11, with the lone win coming Sunday. The Hornets have been outscored 314-151 on the season. Coppin State has been outscored 349-212.

Projected by Interstat’s game simulator as a 4-3 Delaware State victory, the game marks the opening of a three-game series that continues Friday and Saturday — also at Joe Cannon Stadium.

Delaware State’s recent results include a 3-5 loss at New Haven on May 8 and an 11-17 loss at Georgetown on May 5. Coppin State fell 9-10 at Wagner on Saturday and 6-7 on Friday after dropping an 11-inning contest at Maryland-Baltimore County on May 5.

The Hornets will rely on Snavely to keep the Eagles’ lineup in check, while Coppin State looks to Treadwell — who is hitting .321 over his last 10 games — to spark another comeback.

Weather could play a factor, with rain in the forecast. Joe Cannon Stadium, home of the Eagles, is located southwest of Baltimore.