NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team plays its first MEAC Northern Division conference games of the season this weekend when it hosts Delaware State for a three-game series at Marty L. Miller Field. The teams play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday.

The Spartans (3-13) have lost seven in a row following their 6-4 defeat at Longwood on Wednesday. Despite the recent slide, senior first baseman/DH Ross Cardwell has been on a tear lately. He is fourth in the MEAC with a .414 batting average and is on a 12-game hitting streak. Senior second baseman Cody Ellis has also played well of late, raising his season average to .333. Sophomore center fielder Andre' Moore is tied for the MEAC lead with eight stolen bases.

As a team, the Spartans are seventh in the MEAC in both batting (.235) and earned-run average (6.30) but third in fielding percentage (.959).

Delaware State, which has won the MEAC's Northern Division ahead of NSU the last two seasons, enters this weekend with the top overall record among the conference's nine teams (8-4). The Hornets sport a MEAC-leading .329 team batting average.

Newcomers David Kimbrough (.538) and Ron Farley (.452) lead the way, while senior D.J. Miller is not far behind (.421).
The DSU pitching staff is led by sophomore George Michael (2-0, 1.27 ERA in three starts) and senior Matt McClain (2-0, 2.05 ERA in three starts).