NORFOLK, Va. --- The Delaware State baseball team split its seven-inning doubleheader with Norfolk State in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) competition on Saturday.
 
With the bases loaded and a two-run lead to protect after the Spartans strung together seven runs in the bottom of the seventh of game two, C.J. Loper was called out of the bullpen to close the game out.
 
Loper got Minjae Hong to hit a ground ball that resulted in Steven Shaffer getting out on the play and shutting the door on the possible doubleheader sweep. Loper, the MEAC leader in saves added another one to his season, putting him at eight on the year.
 
Delaware State got the scoring started early in the night cap after dropping the matinee 4-3.
 
After pair of singles by Miguel Rivera and Trey Paige to lead off the second game, Krew Bouldin brought Rivera home from third with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead. Paige doubled the Hornet lead a couple batters later after a Spartan fielder's choice allowed him to come home. Delaware State led 2-0 after their half of the first.
 
Norfolk State capitalized on a Delaware State wild pitch and cut the lead in half, 2-1 through one complete inning.
 
Robert Trujillo added an insurance run for the Hornets by way of an RBI-ground out that scored Evan Harris, pushing the game to 3-1 after two frames.
 
The Hornets erupted with a six-run third that turned out to power the win. Alec Rodriguez started the big inning off with an RBI-double to the gap in left center that brought home Bouldin which put the lead at 4-1. Brady Daniels followed with an RBI-single right back up the middle that scored Rodriguez and pushed the lead up to 5-1. Daniels came home after Trujillo drew a bases loaded walk for a 6-1 game. Mike Worthington then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, scoring Alan Alonso for a 7-1 contest. Rivera capped off the inning and continued his hot weekend with a two RBI-single to left field that scored Trujillo and Harris and pushed the lead even further in the Hornets' favor, 9-1 after three innings.
 
Delaware State added three more runs in the fourth by way of a Norfolk State wild pitch, another Trujillo RBI-walk and a Worthington RBI-single and the Hornets led by 11 (12-1) after their half of the fourth.
 
Norfolk State chipped away at the deficit in the Spartan half of the fourth after putting two runs across for a 12-3 Delaware State lead through four complete innings.
 
The Spartans strung a seven-run seventh in an attempt at a comeback and doubleheader sweep which was eventually snuffed out as a two-run deficit would be as close to the lead as they would get.
 
Alonso, Paige, Rivera and Worthington paced the offensive outburst with two hits each. Four Hornets had multi-RBI performances led by Trujillo who had a season-high three RBIs, two of which came from his multi-walk day. Daniels, Rivera and Worthington joined Trujillo in the multi-RBIs category with two each.
 
On the mound Brandon Hatch earned his second of the season after throwing four and a third innings of relief. During his time, he struck out four batters and only gave up four hits, three walks while only suffering two earned runs.
 
Bouldin, Rivera and Worthington accounted for the RBIs in the matinee as they all had one a piece. Paige and Rodriguez joined Rivera and Worthington in the hit column in the loss.
 
On the mound, Jordan Haddaway was one strikeout shy of tying his season high (8) as he sat down seven batters through four and two-thirds innings.
 
Delaware State will look to clinch the series during tomorrow's nine-inning finale. First pitch from Marty L. Miller Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.