Dover, Del. (Mar. 16, 2015) --- Delaware State led by eight runs after two innings and held off a Norfolk State charge in a 9-8 victory in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field today. The Hornets won two of three games in the series to improve to 2-10 overall and 2-1 in the MEAC. The Spartans fell to 4-7 and 1-2.

Ron Farley had two of DSU's four runs batted in and Justin Allen had two hits to lead the Hornets. Delaware State also benefitted from five Spartan errors, resulting in eight unearned runs.

After Norfolk opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, the Hornets answered with  three in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. David Kimbrough started the rally with a one-out single. Cameron Onderko followed with a double to score Kimbrough and tie the game. Two batters later, Allen reached base on an infield single with Onderko advancing to third. Onderko scored the go-ahead run when the next batter, Ron Farley, reached on an error. The Hornets opened up a 3-1 lead when Allen scored on a wild pitch.

DSU scored six runs on just two hits in the second inning to stretch its lead to 9-1. The Hornets also took advantage of three Norfolk State errors in the second.

Devin Beverly walked to lead off the inning, and stole second with Kimbrough at the plate.  Beverly later scored on an error to give the Hornets a three-run lead. The bases were loaded with two outs when Farley singled in two runs to give DSU a 6-1 lead. The Hornets scored three more runs in the inning. Tyler Ramsey doubled in a run, while the others were the result of an error and wild pitch.

Norfolk State responded with three runs in the third to cut DSU's lead to 9-4. Roger Hall and Angel Rosario had run-scoring hits in the inning for the Spartans.

NSU put two more on the board on the fourth inning and scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to pull to within 9-8.   

The Hornets took the one-run lead into the Norfolk State ninth. The Spartans put a runner on base with one out in the inning, but DSU reliever Garrett Coverdale forced the next batter to hit into a double play to end the game.

Hall had three hits and three RBI to lead Norfolk State's 11-hit attack.

Dan Galati (1-2) pitched four innings in relief to earn the win for the Hornets. Galati allowed two hits and a run, while striking out three to pick up his first victory of the season.

Delaware State returns to action on Tuesday against La Salle. Game time is 3 p.m. at Soldier Field.