DOVER, Del. --- The Delaware State baseball team earned a 9-4 nonconference win over the United States Naval Academy at home on Wednesday.
 
Krew Bouldin opened up the scoring early in the bottom of the first inning after a grounding into a double play was still able to score Trey Paige for a 1-0 Hornet lead through the first frame of the afternoon.
 
The Midshipmen stole the lead in the top half of the third inning by way of an Alex Smith two-run home run down the left field line to put Navy up 2-1 through three and half innings.
 
Alec Rodriguez tied the game one half-inning later with a sacrifice fly to center field that was just deep enough to get Paige home from third base for a 2-2 game through the first third of the game.
 
Paige busted the game open one inning later with a two-RBI single that brought home both Jordan King and Wilfredo Mendez giving the Hornets a 4-2 lead with Evan Bouldin coming up to the plate. Even though Evan Bouldin flew out on his at bat, his fly out not only allowed Paige to advance on the play but it caused a Navy error giving Paige the opportunity to come home and extend the lead up to 5-2 through four complete innings.
 
Once Delaware State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth, the Hornets would not concede for the remainder of the game.
 
Freshman catcher Nick Gnardellis hit his now team-leading fifth home run with a solo shot over the wall in left center that gave Delaware State a 6-3 lead after the seventh inning. Gnardellis was asked about his recent production at the plate after the game and stated "It feels good to be producing for my team right now. I don't think I had the best preseason coming in, but I worked hard on what I needed to as the season drew closer. Seeing that hard work starting to pay off is a good feeling."
 
The Hornets secured their home win with a three-run eighth inning with RBI's coming from a groundout by Jancarlos Colon and two singles to center field from Paige and Krew Bouldin.
 
Paige paced the offense with a game-high three hits and three RBIs while Evan Bouldin and Krew Bouldin both recorded multi-hit games in the win.
 
On the mound, Evan Bouldin started off strong pitching three innings and only surrendering two earned runs during his outing. Zachary Dale, Hiram Davis, Brandon Hatch, Hunter Thompson, Evan Harris and C.J. Loper all came in for one inning each in relief to help preserve the home win.

Today's win marks career win No. 496 for head coach JP Blandin. 
 
Delaware State returns to Northeast Conference (NEC) competition this weekend with a three-game home series with Central Connecticut State University. The series is slated to open on Friday at 3 p.m. at Bob Reed Field.