Princess Anne, Md. (Apr. 19, 2015) --- Delaware State pounded out 14 hits, including three by Austin Bentley and Chris Gonzalez, while taking advantage of six UMES errors in a 12-10 MEAC victory over the Hawks in the series finale today.    

The Hornets avoided being swept by the Hawks for the second time this season to improve to 9-24 overall and 8-10 in the MEAC. UMES fell to 13-24 and 11-7.

Bentley was three-for-five with three runs batted in, while Gonzalez was three- for-five with a RBI. Catcher Sam Barber had a hit and two RBI for the Hornets.

DSU opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second inning off Hawk starter Chipper Smith.  Justin Allen and Bentley each singled to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Torres advanced the runners, Barber singled to right field to score Allen and Bentley with the first runs of the game.  Barber scored the third run of the inning on a UMES error.

The Hornets added a run in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Cameron Onderko singled to lead off the inning and later scored on two more Hawk errors.

UMES answered with four runs in the bottom of the third off Hornet starter Jaylen Zielecki to tie the game. Greg Turlik had a two-run single, while Mike Escanilla and Justin Datillo had run-scoring hits in the inning for the Hawks.

After the Hornets went down in order in the top of the fourth, UMES took the lead with a run on a single by Joshua James in the bottom of the inning.

DSU responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to regain the lead. Charles Dailey singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a two-out double by Gonzalez to tie the game at 5-5.  Two batters later, Bentley singled to left to score Gonzalez with the go-ahead run.

The Hornets padded their lead with four runs in the sixth. Barber was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Dailey singled to put runners at second and first. David Kimbrough followed with a single to left to score Barber, giving DSU a 7-5 lead. The Hornets added two more runs in the inning when Onderko reached on an error, with Dailey and Kimbrough scoring on the play. Onderko later scored on a sac fly by Allen to give the Hornets a 10-5 lead.

The Hawks scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and two in the seventh to cut the Hornets' lead to 10-8.

Delaware State got a little breathing room when Bentley singled in two runs in the eighth to stretch the Hornets' lead to 12-8.

The Hawks scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, and had the potential tying run at the plate when Hornet reliever Hunter McVey got the final out of the game on a pop to first to earn his first career save.      

Zach Cooney (1-1) pitched 3.1 innings of relief to pick up his first career win for the Hornets. Smith (3-4) suffered the loss for the Hawks.

Dailey, Kimbrough and Onderko had two hits each for Delaware State. Jordan martin had three of the Hawks' 13 hits.

The Hornets return to action on Tuesday (Apr. 21) at La Salle. Game time is 3 p.m. in Philadelphia.