Dover, Del. (Apr. 25, 2016)--- Delaware State will look to avoid a season sweep by the University of Delaware when the Blue Hens visit Soldier Field on Tuesday. Game time is set for 3 p.m.  The Hornets are 10-28 this season, while UD brings a 24-16 record into the contest.

This will be the third meeting of the season between the First State rivals. Delaware won the first contest 4-2 on March 6 and posted an 8-3 victory over the Hornets on Mar 9, each at UD's Bob Hannah Stadium.

In addition to trying to snap a four-game losing streak to Delaware, the Hornets are also seeking their first victory against a non-MEAC opponent this season.

DSU's last win in the series was in 2013 at Delaware (6-4). The last time the Hornets defeated the Hens at Soldier Field was on Mar. 20, 2012 (4-1).

Delaware State is hitting .230 as a team this season.

Freshman Todd Henry leads the Hornets with a  .320 average. He also tops the team with 40 hits and 24 runs scored. Henry was four-for-five with a double, run batted in and stolen base in the Mar. 6 contest at Delaware.

Outfielder/DH Austin Bentley (so.) and OF/P Jaylen Zielecki  (jr.) are tied for second on the Hornets with a .283 average.

Bentley has a team-high 21 RBI and is second on the squad with 34 hits. Zielecki leads the Hornets with seven doubles and is second on the team with nine steals (9-12).

Second baseman Kwestin Smith (jr.) is fourth on the team in batting (.253) and tops the club in stolen bases (10) and walks (24).

Delaware State's pitching staff has a combined earned average of 5.41 this season, but it stands at 6.87 against non-MEAC opponents. Hornet pitchers have a nearly two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio this year, fanning 313 hitters while walking 165.

Freshman right-hander Cole Davis is expected to start for the Hornets against Delaware on Tuesday. Davis is third on the Hornets with 42 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched this season. He appeared in each of the first two contests against Delaware this year. He pitched 1.2 hitless innings in his first outing against the Hens on Mar. 6, but was touched up for four hits and four runs in 1.2 innings in the Mar. 15 meeting.     

Delaware has a .304 team batting average.

Kyle Baker leads the Hens with a .397 average. Nick Patten has a team-high eight home runs, while Jordan Glover tops the club with 42 RBI.

Righty Dan Belfer (1-0; 3.00 ERA) is Tuesday's scheduled starter for the Hens.

DSU Athletics Hall-of-Famer Charlie Emerson, a former Hornet baseball standout, is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.