Daytona Beach, Fla. (May 18, 2011) --- Jordan Elliott tossed a seven-hit shutout and struck out a career-high 12 batters to lead Delaware State to a 5-0 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in the opening round of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament at Jackie Robinson Park this morning.

The second-seeded Hornets (25-27) will take on No. 3 Norfolk State in the second round of the tournament on Thursday (May 19) at 2:00 p.m.

Elliott (6-5) scattered seven singles and did not allow a walk. He struck out the side in the first inning, and fanned two in the fourth and ninth innings. The former Milford (Del.) High School star struck out at least one batter in eight of the nine innings. 

The Hornets opened the scoring with two runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first inning. Keith Hernandez walked to lead off the inning, then stole second. Troy Drummond followed with a walk, putting runners on second and first. After Scott Davis advanced the runners with sacrifice bunt, Ryan Haas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Aaron Nardone followed with a single to center field to score Hernandez and Drummond.

Delaware State added a run in the fifth when Ryan Haas singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by DJ Miller.

The Hornets tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth. Hernandez singled in the first run and the second crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Drummond.

Hernandez, Nardone, Miller and Brandon Crist had two hits each for the Hornets.

Matt Witte (3-7) was the losing pitcher for UMES.