NORFOLK, Va. --- The Delaware State baseball team split a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games with Norfolk State on Saturday.
 
Norfolk State took game one by a score of 4-3 while Delaware State rallied to take game two 9-7.
 
During the matinee, the Spartans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead through the first three innings of the game.
 
The Hornets spent the fourth and fifth innings tying the game at three. Evan Harris got Delaware State on the board after he drew a bases loaded walk which allowed Miguel Rivera to score and trim the Spartan advantage down to 3-1 in the top of the fourth. A couple batters later, Alec Rodriguez continued his productive weekend with another RBI-single, this time into center field and scored Trey Paige, bringing the Hornets to within one at 3-2 through four innings.
 
Harris recorded his second RBI of the game in the top of the fifth with another single into left field to score Rivera again and tie the game at 3.
 
Norfolk State took the lead one inning later and shut the door on a possible comeback and sealed the game one win.
 
In the night cap and after falling behind again to start a game, the Hornets came alive in the fourth inning springing for six runs and ensure the game two win.
 
Alan Alonso broke the scoreless seal after he drew his own bases loaded walk of his own and cutting the Spartan advantage in half at 2-1 in the top of the fourth. One batter later, Rivera put the lead in favor of Delaware State for good. The senior second baseman drilled a single into the gap in right center that brought home Mike Worthington and Mason Brewer for a 3-2 advantage over Norfolk State.
 
Krew Bouldin joined in on recording an RBI via a walk to add an insurance run and double the Hornet lead to 4-2 still in the fourth inning. After Bouldin, Harris added two more runs to the lead with a two-RBI single through the right side pushing the lead further away from the Spartans at 6-2 at the end of the fourth.
 
Delaware State added a couple runs of insurance to start the top of the fifth inning. Brady Daniels led off with a walk and then got himself into scoring position by stealing second base. Rodriguez took full advantage and brought Daniels home after he placed a single through the right side and extending the lead up to 7-2.
 
Rodriguez, who was able to land on third during his hit due to a Spartan fielding error, was brought home by Brewer by way of a sacrifice fly for an 8-2 lead through five innings.
 
Norfolk State however, would not go away without a fight, springing for five runs in the fifth inning to cut the deficit down to just one run. The Spartans five-run fifth was highlighted by a Dionte Brown grand slam.
 
A one-run deficit would be as close to the lead as Norfolk State would get as Delaware State added another run in the top of the seventh to secure the night cap victory.
 
Ethan Edelson threw two innings of relief for the Hornets and kept the win alive during his outing. Edelson sat down a team-best five Spartans, only allowed two hits and one walk as he earned his second save of the season.
 
Also on the mound, Jordan Haddaway improved his personal record to 2-2 after he claimed the win in the starting pitcher role. Haddaway went four innings and while he surrendered four runs, he struck out four and only allowed two walks. He only faced a total of 19 batters for an average of just under five batters per inning.
 
Offensively, the Hornets were led by Harris and Rivera who drove in two runs each. Harris tallied a total of four RBI's between both games.
 
Rodriguez was the only Delaware State batter to record a multi-hit day at the plate in game two. As a team, the Hornets drew 14 walks, led by Alonso who was given a free base four times.
 
The Hornets will attempt to clinch the series in the finale tomorrow. First pitch from Marty L. Miller Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.