BRIDGEPORT, Conn. --- The Delaware State Baseball team defeated Sacred Heart University to close out its three-game Northeast Conference (NEC) series by a final score of 13-7 on Sunday.
 
Delaware State jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the front half of the game powered by a four-run first frame of action. The Hornets' four-run first was highlighted by a Chris Amparo two-RBI triple to the gap in right center to push Delaware State's lead up to 3-0 before Mason Brewer capped off the early outburst with an RBI-single to bring Amparo home from third.
 
Amparo and Jancarlos Colon extended Delaware State's advantage in the second and third innings with an RBI-single each.
 
Krew Bouldin pushed the Hornet lead even further in the top of the fourth inning by way of a two-run home run over the left field wall for an 8-0 advantage.
 
The Pioneers would not go away quietly as they put five runs across between the fourth and fifth innings trimming the lead down to three for an 8-5 game after five complete frames.
 
Delaware State erupted for five more runs in the later third of the contest with another four-run frame coming in the top of the eighth. Freshman standout Nick Gnardellis put the nail in the coffin with his ninth home run of the season by way of a three-run blast to the deepest part of the Sacred Heart yard in center field to put the game at 13-6 at the end of the inning. Gndardellis joins Amparo and Trey Paige once again in a three-way tie for the team lead in round-trippers.
 
Sacred Heart got only one run back in the ninth as a six-run deficit would be as close to the lead as the Pioneers would get before Brandon Hatch and the Hornet defense slammed the door on a possible comeback.
 
With five Hornets recording multi-hit days at the plate, Paige led the way with a game-high four base knocks powered by a pair of doubles. Colon and Brady Daniels both tallied 3-for-5 games while Amparo and Krew Bouldin notched a pair of hits.

Amparo, Gnardellis and Krew Bouldin all drove in a team-best three RBIs.
 
On the mound, Hiram Davis picked up his third win of the season after toting the rubber for three innings of relief. While allowing three walks, Davis only gave up one hit and surrendered just one earned run as he did his part to preserve the win. Hatch took the bump for the final six outs and only let one Pioneer score on his watch as he ensured the Hornets put another checkmark in the win column and the end of the afternoon.
 
Delaware State returns to action this Wednesday for a nonconference road matchup with UMBC. First pitch is currently scheduled for 3 p.m.