DOVER, Del. - With the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division lead on the line, the Delaware State University offense couldn't get on a roll Friday afternoon as the Hornets fell, 3-1 and 6-1, to Norfolk State at the Hornets' Nest.

The Spartans (20-19; 9-2 MEAC) combined for 23 hits compared to just 13 for Delaware State (18-14-1; 8-3 MEAC).

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets looked as though they would rally for a comeback victory.  With runners on first and second, senior Breanne Parr (Camarillo, Calif.) single to center field to allow sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) to score DSU's first, and eventually only, run of the game.  Despite recording three hits, the Hornets left two runners stranded in the inning. 

Sophomore Rachel Meagley (Spokane, Wash.) took her first loss of the season, going 2.2 innings and giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out four to move to 4-1 on the year.

NSU got on board first in game two, scoring a run off of a double and two singles in the top of the first inning.

The Hornets took a big hit in the bottom of the frame as senior Jordan Reid (Accokeek, Md.) led off getting hit by a pitch and then had to leave the game with concussion-like symptoms after colliding with a NSU infielder with an attempted stolen base.

The Spartans had their largest inning of the day in the fourth, posting three runs on five hits.

Freshman Bria Green (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to left center, her second of the season, to put things at 4-1.  Parr followed with a double down the left field line, but that is all Delaware State could muster in the inning.

Norfolk State followed with two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-1 advantage.

The Hornet lineup was shuffled around a bit in the final innings, but nothing would help their cause as the Spartans pitched a perfect sixth and seventh innings.

Jamie Schulle earned both wins for Norfolk State, moving to 11-9 on the year.

Sophomore Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.) took the loss for the Hornets, going 3.2 innings and giving up six hits and three runs (all earned) while striking out one before leaving the game after getting hit with a line drive to the knee.

The two teams wrap up the series on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch at the Hornets Nest. 

In recognition of DSU's seven seniors, the school will hold Senior Day festivities, with a pregame ceremony beginning at 12:40 p.m.

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