Live Stats  |  Live Video

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team opens its 2013 MEAC schedule this weekend as it plays host to defending conference Northern Division champion Delaware State at Marty L. Miller Field. The teams play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., and a single game Sunday beginning at noon.

This weekend marks the first of three series and nine total games this season between the Hornets and Spartans, who were Northern Division regular-season runners-up last season behind DSU.

NSU enters with a 5-10 mark following a 17-4 loss at Longwood Wednesday. The Spartans earned their first weekend series win last Saturday and Sunday, taking two of three from Wagner College.

Four Spartans enter this weekend with averages of at least .280, led by junior outfielder Tyon Ore's .315 clip. He has a team-high 17 hits and is tied for second on the squad with eight runs batted in. Senior first baseman Ross Cardwell sits at .303 and also has eight RBI. Junior first baseman/designated hitter Zach Markel is batting .291 and junior third baseman/DH Chase Kyriacou rounds out the quartet with a .281 mark, including one home run and a team-best 10 RBI.

On the mound, all three NSU weekend starters boast an earned run average of less than 3.50. Senior Chris Horne leads the way with a 1.78 ERA despite an 0-2 record. Senior lefty Richie Salter is 2-2 with a 2.14 ERA, and junior Justin Bhatti is 1-3 with a 3.47 mark.

The Hornets are 9-6 on the year thus far and have won four of their last five ballgames. In their last outing, DSU split a doubleheader with in-state foe Delaware on Wednesday, winning the first game 6-4 but losing the nightcap, 6-5. DSU hits .315 as a team and has outscored its opponents by 21 runs this season (99-78). Six DSU players are batting at least .300, led by outfielder Aaron Nardone's .392 average. He has four doubles, three triples, one homer and 12 RBI.

All three of the Hornets' weekend starting pitchers have an ERA under 4.00. Leading the way is senior All-MEAC right hander Jordan Elliott (2-0, 0.43 ERA), who has allowed just one earned run and nine hits in 21 innings.