SALISBURY, Md. --- The Delaware State baseball team open its three-game Northeast Conference (NEC) series with a 3-2 win over University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in 12 innings on Thursday.
 
After six scoreless frames in a tied game, Alec Rodriguez stepped up to the plate with two outs and Evan Harris on second base who stole the bag after being called upon to pinch run for Brady Daniels who drew a walk to get on first.
 
Rodriguez battled in his at bat and eventually belted a double into the gap in left center deep enough to score Harris from second and give the Hornets a 3-2 lead with the Hawks still to bat.

Senior reliever C.J. Loper slammed the door on a possible comeback in the 12th inning to preserve the series opening victory.
 
Rodriguez got the scoring going early in the contest with a solo home run in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 Delaware State lead. Trey Paige doubled the Hornet advantage in the top of the 5th inning with a solo home run of his own for a 2-0 game after the visiting half of the fifth.

Paige's home run gives him 12 on the year and with his 13 round trippers a season ago, he has recorded the most home runs in back-to-back seasons since Hall of Fame member Scott Martin notched 18 in 2002 and followed that up with 15 in 2003.

Offensively, Paige, Rodriguez and Evan Bouldin paced the Hornets efforts with a pair of hits each with Rodriguez driving in a game-best two runs.
 
On the mound, Jack Messmore spent a season-high 7.2 innings on the bump and only surrendered four walks and one hit while striking out two in his outing. Loper, Hiram Davis and Brandon Hatch combined for the next 4.2 innings of shutout baseball where only three walks and one hit were allowed.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow at Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury, Maryland. First pitch is currently scheduled for 3 p.m.