DOVER, Del. --- The Delaware State baseball team opened up the home portion of the 2023 season with a pair of wins over Saint Peter's University on Saturday.
 
Game One: Delaware State 10, Saint Peter's 6
 
Both teams got on the board early in the first game. Saint Peters put up three runs in the top of the first by way of a pair of RBI-singles and a sac fly for a 3-0 lead before Delaware State even came up to bat.
 
Evan Bouldin responded in the Hornets' half of the first with his first collegiate round-tripper that he sent over the left field wall to bring Delaware State to within one as Trey Paige got on base after drawing a walk.
 
A couple innings later, Joey Vitiello doubled the Peacocks' lead with a solo home run for a 4-2 advantage in the fourth. Michael Cardone belted a solo home run two innings later pushing the lead up to three through the top half of the sixth.
 
Krew Bouldin would not be outdone by his younger brother and as he got in on the home run action with a solo shot to left field to trim the lead down to 5-3 through six complete frames.
 
The Hornets exploded offensively in the seventh inning. Evan Bouldin got the rally started with a single to center field that would also cause a Saint Peter's error and allowing Jancarlos Colon and Robert Trujillo to score for a 5-5 game. Wilfredo Mendez put the lead in Delaware State's favor by way of a two-RBI single to left field that brought home Paige and Evan Bouldin for a 7-5 Hornet lead. Krew Bouldin added some insurance for his pitchers with a powerful RBI-single to right field to score Mendez and extend the lead to 8-5. Chris Amparo capped off the outburst with a two-RBI home run of his own, giving Delaware State a 10-5 lead through seven complete frames.
 
The Peacocks got one back in the top of the eighth after Jack Eichler sent one over the left field wall, however, a four-run deficit would be as close the lead as Saint Peter's would see for the remainder of game one.
 
Senior relief pitcher C.J. Loper struck out the side in the top of the ninth to preserve the win.
 
With six Hornets recording multi-hit days in the first game, Mendez recorded a 3-for-5 day at the plate while Amparo Evan Bouldin, Krew Bouldin, Colon and Trujillo all notched a pair of base hits. Evan Bouldin led the way with three RBIs while Amparo, Krew Bouldin and Mendez all drove in a pair.
 
 
Game 2: Delaware State 11, Saint Peter's 9
 
Paige was the Hornet who got the scoring going early for Delaware State as he belted a solo home run in his first at-bat of the second game for a 1-0 lead.
 
Saint Peter's put together a five-run third inning that featured a two-RBI home run from Nick Markantonatos as the Peacocks would take a 5-1 lead after their half of the third frame.
 
Evan Bouldin got one back for the Hornets with an RBI groundout that allowed Evan Harris to score.
 
Delaware State recorded another seven-run inning in this game, this time in the fourth frame. Left fielder Alec Rodriguez tallied his second home run of the season after he hit a two-run home run over the left field wall that also scored Krew Bouldin and trimming the lead down to a 5-4 Saint Peter's advantage.
 
Catcher Mason Brewer's at-bat caused a fielding error that scored Amparo and tied the game at 5 all. Harris and Evan Bouldin both recorded RBI-singles to establish a 7-5 lead while Mendez chipped in with an RBI-double to extend the gap to three (8-5). Krew Bouldin finished off the scoring with an RBI-sac fly for a 9-5 game through four complete innings.
 
Saint Peter's tied the game in the top of the sixth with another home run from Markantonatos, this time with the bases loaded forcing a 9-9 game through the Peacock half of the sixth inning.
 
Delaware State scored the final two runs of the contest in the Hornet portion of the sixth after Rodriguez put a triple into the gap at right center followed by a single to left field from Amparo.
 
Rodriguez led the offensive efforts in game two with three hits and three RBIs while Amparo, Krew Bouldin and Paige all recorded a pair of hits in the win.
 
On the mound, freshman Nathan Vidmar sat down a season-high and game-high six batters while Hiram Davis earned his first win of the season in relief. Jack Messmore took the mound in the top of the seventh and claimed the first save of his college career and ensuring the doubleheader sweep.
 
Delaware State will take on University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from Bob Reed Field is currently scheduled for 2:30 p.m.