(Ormond Beach, Fla.) – The Delaware State softball team (35-16) jumped all over the No. 2 Hampton Pirates (29-20) out of the north Friday afternoon in a win or go home situation to come away with a 9-0 victory in five innings to advance in the MEAC Tournament.

In the first, the Hornets exploded to score four runs on five hits, headlined by a three-run blast over the left field wall by infielder Rochelle Sablay (6) off MEAC Pitcher of the Year Jailynn Jackson (19-12).

Later, Delaware State broke the game completely open in the fourth, beginning with a Jessica Madrid RBI-triple to make it a 6-0 ball game, whereas catcher Sandy Hawthorne drove her in during the next at-bat with a double to center.  As the inning progressed, infielder Danielle Velez singled up the middle to bring in pinch runner Nkili Matthews, while sophomore Jordan Stamps RBI-singled.

At game's end, DSU tallied 14 hits, led by Chloe Oro and Stamps both going 3-for-3. Hawthorne and Sablay, meanwhile, recorded two. 

In the circle, freshman Vanessa Ciocatto (12-5) allowed three hits, two walks and fanned four HU batters to pick up the shutout victory.  Jackson, on the other hand, surrendered 12 hits and eight earned runs in three innings of work before being replaced by Jecholia Pratt.

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will look to keep their season alive later tonight at 6 p.m. against No. 1 Bethune-Cookman.