Box Score SALISBURY, Md. – Delaware State scored three ninth-inning runs thanks to three of Norfolk State's six errors to complete a second rally and overtake the Spartans for good, 13-11, in first-day action at the 2015 MEAC Baseball Championship on Wednesday at Perdue Stadium.

The Spartans (26-15), seeded first in the MEAC North, scored seven times in the bottom of the first inning before DSU (16-27) scored 10 unanswered runs, eventually overtaking the Spartans in the top of the eighth. NSU answered with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to re-take the lead at 11-10, only to lose the lead for good in the ninth.

With NSU trailing 10-7 entering the bottom of the eighth, Troy Applin hit an RBI single and Mikey Bruno knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to bring the Spartans within a run. Second baseman Roger Hall later hit a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 10, and Angel Rosario scored from second at the end of Ryan Kilmon's infield single when the ball got away from the Hornets' infield, allowing NSU to take an 11-10 lead.

But the Spartan defense couldn't make the lead stand. Austin Bentley reached on an NSU error to start the ninth. One out later, Charles Dailey did the same to put runners on second and third with one out. NSU reliever Josh Vales struck out David Kimbrough for the second out and thought he had frozen Cameron Onderko on a 1-2 count for what would have been the final out of the game. But Onderko worked the count back in his favor and drew a walk. Vales then hit Chris Gonzalez with a pitch to tie the game at 11-all.

Justin Allen's ground ball to first was misplayed for the third error of the inning, allowing the go-ahead runs to score.

In a game dominated by the offenses, DSU reliever Hunter McVey retired the Spartans in order in the bottom of the ninth to finish off the Hornets' second win of the day. DSU, seeded third in the MEAC North, started the day with a 6-2 win over MEAC South No. 2 Bethune-Cookman.

The game couldn't have started better for the Spartans. DSU starter Jaylen Zielecki retired Bruno to start the bottom of the first, but the following nine Spartan batters reach base. Syeed Mahdi and Rosario got it started with singles through the infield. Hall followed with an RBI single to score Mahdi, and Ryan Kilmon did likewise to plate Rosario for a 2-0 NSU lead. Robbie Hiser had the Spartans' fifth consecutive hit, a two-run double to the wall in center field to score both Hall and Kilmon.

Zielecki then walked three straight hitters to force in a run and was replaced by Terry Godfrey, who walked the first batter he faced to force in the sixth run of the inning. A passed ball with the bases loaded accounted for the seventh and final run of the inning, which saw 12 Spartans bat.

But Godfrey stemmed the tide and kept NSU off the board long enough for his team to slowly rally. DSU started its first comeback in the top of the fourth, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by Jake Bartlett. Chris Gonzalez then lined a three-run home run over the 309-foot sign down the right-field line in the fifth.

The Spartans went on to commit two costly two-out errors in the top of the seventh that led to three DSU runs, allowing the Hornets to knot the score at 7-all.

Things continued to unravel for NSU in the top of the eighth. Sam Barber led off with a single before two bunts – one which resulted in a Spartan error and the other that went for a hit – loaded the bases. Onderko then drew a walk from Cooper Jones to force in the go-ahead run for the Hornets. Allen and Ron Farley both singled in a run to extend the DSU lead to 10-7.

Vales took the loss for NSU to drop to 3-3 on the year. He allowed three runs – all unearned – in two innings of work. McVey (1-0) earned the win for the Hornets, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings.

Hiser went 3-for-5 to lead a 14-hit attack for NSU. Mahdi, Rosario, Kilmon, Hall and Applin added two apiece. Bruno, Applin, Hiser and Hall had two RBI each.

Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with four RBI for the Hornets. Allen batted 3-for-6.

NSU drops into the elimination bracket and plays Maryland Eastern Shore at 9 a.m. Thursday.