Durham, N.C. (Feb. 23, 2015) --- Delaware State generated little offense in two losses to wrap up the Duke Baseball Classic on Sunday. The Hornets fell to Iona 9-2 before being blanked by Hartford 6-0 to go winless in three tournament games.
In the Iona contest, Kyle DiVico was four-for-five with a homer and six runs batted in to lead the Gaels. Iona's Carmine Palummo had three hits and two RBI in five at bats.
The Gaels opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning.
The Hornets got on the board with a run in the third on a two-out single by David Kimbrough to cut Iona's lead to 2-1. Kimbrough led the Hornets with two hits (two-for-four) in the contest.
The Gael's scored two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to open up a 5-1 lead. Iona blew the game open with four runs in the eighth, highlighted by DiVico's three-run homer, to build an eight-run lead.
Austin Bently doubled in a run in the bottom of the ninth to close out the scoring for the Hornets.
Iona starter Mariano Rivera (1-1) allowed seven hits and one run, while striking out seven in 6.2 innings to earn the win.
DSU starter Chris Gonzalez (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
In the Hartford contest, starter Sam McKay pitched six shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out six, to earn the win. Two relievers combined to throw three hitless innings to complete the shutout for the Hawks.
Hartford scored all the runs its needed with three in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by Ryan Lukach's two-run homer.
Chris DelDebbio smacked a solo homer in the second for the Hawks.
The Hornets were held to four singles, including one by Kimbrough to give him three hits in seven at bats in two Sunday games. Gonzalez, Bentley and Kwestin Smith also singled for DSU.
Starter Travis Dill (0-1) suffered the loss for DSU. He allowed all six Hartford runs in 3.1 innings. Three Hornet relievers combined for 4.2 shutout innings.
Delaware State returns to action on Friday (Feb. 27) with two games at the University of Delaware Tournament. The Hornets will take on Albany at 11 a.m. before battling the host Blue Hens at 2:30 p.m. at Bob Hannah State in Newark, Del.
