DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2009) ? Norfolk State's Juan Herrera went 3-for-4, driving in the tying run and scoring the go-ahead run to lead the Spartans (21-22) to a 5-3 win over the Delaware State Hornets (19-25-1) during Game Four of the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The loss eliminates the Hornets from this year's tournament, while the Spartans survive to take on the UMES Hawks later today.

NSU's Jason Barker picked up his sixth win of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out seven in seven and one-third innings pitched. Right-hander Ryan Shook came in relief for Barker to earn his second save of the season, hurling one and two-third shutout innings.

Delaware State's Josh Schmidt suffered the loss, giving up five runs (two earned) on 10 hits in six and one-third innings of action.

Norfolk State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. A lead-off triple by John Lynch put a Spartan runner in scoring position with no outs. The next batter, Anslemo Cantu, registered a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Lynch for the 1-0 advantage. Lynch finished the day hitting 3-for-4 with a run scored. Cantu went 0-for-4 with an RBI.

DSU tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the third with a run by Ryne Mailen. Mailen led-off the inning with a double to center field. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Wynton Weather (1-fo-3 with 2 RBI), a balk by Barker brought the DSU designated hitter home. Mailen hit 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Norfolk State regained its lead in the top of the fourth following an error by shortstop Jose Sanchez. With runners on first and second, a single by Andrew Suttmiller was booted into the outfield by Sanchez, allowing Chris Joyce to score. Joyce went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

In the bottom of the fourth, Delaware State scored two run to take a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded, Weather singled to left field, driving in Ross Babineaux and Troy Drummond from third and second, respectively. Babineaux led all Hornets with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Drummond finished the day hitting 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The Spartans scored three runs in the top of the sixth, giving NSU a lead it would never relinquish. An RBI double down the right-field line by Herrera tied the game, 3-3. A passed ball by Weather with a runner on third accounted for the second run of the inning while an RBI single by TiQuan Griffin to center field gave Norfolk State a two-run lead.

DSU looked to re-take the lead in the bottom of the eight. The Hornets loaded the bases with one out however, Mailen hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end DSU's rally and kept the score a 5-3.

In the game, DSU stranded eight base runners. Norfolk State left nine on base. The Hornets finished the contest scoring three runs on eights while committing four errors. The Spartans registered five runs on 11 hits and one error.

With the loss, Delaware State was eliminated from the 2009 MEAC Baseball Tournament, finishing the season with a 19-25-1 record. Norfolk State will take on UMES in an elimination game later today at 6 p.m.