DOVER, Del. (April 28, 2009) ? A six-run sixth inning for the Navy Midshipmen (19-26-1) was the difference as the Delaware State Baseball Team (18-18-1) fell in its final home game of the 2009 season, 8-4.

Scoring four runs on nine hits, the Hornets finished the season with a 12-13 record at Soldier Field.

DSU committed two critical errors in the top of the sixth, leading to six unearned runs for the Midshipmen.

Freshman Tony Gatto drove in the Hornets' first run of the game in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead. The Dover, Del., product finished the game going 2-for-4 with one run and his first-career RBI.

Navy responded with two runs in the top of the fourth off of a two-RBI single by Michael Speciale. The Midshipmen extended their lead with six runs in the top of the sixth on three hits and two costly errors.

The Hornets came back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth. A two-run home run by Jose Portela highlighted the inning. Portela went 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored as a pinch hitter on Tuesday. The two-run blast over the left-field fence was the first of the season for Portela. Mike Rizzuto drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI single to right field. Rizzuto went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Unable to score any more runs, DSU suffered its 18th loss of the season.

Rounding out the multiple-hit performances was Justin Bittner, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Midshipmen registered eight runs on six hits and no errors. Aggressive on the base paths, Navy recorded six stolen bases on the afternoon.

Navy was led by Jonathan Wright, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored as well as Mike Hoosier, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Hoosier blasted a three-run home run in the top of the six.

Alec Thomas picked up the win for Navy, allowing one run on four hits in five innings of action.

DSU right-hander Shane Foreman (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up two runs on two hits in one inning of relief. The Wilcox, Ariz., native registered three strikeouts in the game. Reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week Jordan Elliott made his seventh start of the season, hurling three innings of perfect baseball. The Milford, Del., native retired the first nine batters of the contest, striking out two.

Delaware State will travel Towson, Md., to face the Towson Tigers on Wednesday, April 29. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.