ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Freshman Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) went 5-for-8 with three runs, four RBI and a double on the day as the Delaware State University softball team defeated South Carolina State, 10-4, and Florida A&M, 4-3, on the opening day of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, held Thursday at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The Hornets came out of the gates in game one, scoring four runs on five hits in the first inning against the Bulldogs.  MEAC Player of the Year Jordan Reid (Accokeek, Md.) led off with a single and then stole second.  As the third batter of the inning, fellow junior Rachel Carroll (Oxnard, Calif.) singled and advanced to second on the throw in while Reid moved to third.

Martello then singled in both Reid and Carroll to give DSU a 2-0 lead.  Senior Janelle Lukens (Williamsport, Pa.) posted another single and then stole second to put runners and second and third with freshman Ashley Davis (Seattle, Wash.) at bat.  Davis followed with a two RBI double, scoring Martello and Lukens as the Hornets took a 4-0 lead.

DSU scored another two runs in the third inning off of two hits and a SCSU error to go up, 6-0.  Martello led off the inning with a double while Lukens next reached on a throwing error by second baseman LaTavia Riley as Martello scored.  Davis reached on a fielder's choice before stealing second.  She then scored on a RBI double from junior Leslie Pleasanton (Smyrna, Del.).

The Bulldogs closed the lead to 6-4 in the fourth on RBI singles from Tonya Giles, Denita Carter and Riley before the Hornets pulled away with a three-run sixth where they capitalized on three SCSU errors to take the 10-4 win.

Sophomore Amber Coburn (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) picked up the win for DSU as she gave up just two hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.  Junior Casey Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.) earned her first save of the season.

In the second game of the day for the Hornets, DSU scored one run in the bottom of the seventh to steal the game from Florida A&M, 4-3.

The Lady Rattlers scored one run in the top of the first but the Hornets responded with their own run in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single from Martello.

Martello scored DSU's second run of the game as she singled to center field and then scored on a double from Lukens to go up, 2-1.

The Hornets registered two doubles in the bottom of the fourth and scored another run to take their largest lead of the game at 3-1.

FAMU fought back in the top of the sixth to tie the score at three apiece.

In the bottom of the seventh, Reid singled down the right field line and advanced to third on an error by second baseman Tera Gainer.  Waters reached base on the same error before Carroll walked to load the bases.  Martello singled and Reid slid home to score the winning run to give DSU the 4-3 win.

Freshman Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.) earned the win for the Hornets, her ninth of the season, giving up six hits and two runs in 6.2 innings pitched.

DSU advances to tomorrow's semifinal game against defending MEAC Champion Bethune-Cookman.  First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.