NORFOLK, Va. – Darnell Maisonet capped a four-run Delaware State rally with the go-ahead three-run double in the top of the ninth as the Hornets took the MEAC North Division opener from Norfolk State, 5-4, in a rain-delayed contest on Sunday evening at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Spartans (4-11, 0-1 MEAC) used timely hitting, defense and pitching to take a 4-1 lead into the ninth, but things came unraveled from there. DSU's Jaylen Zielecki drew a one-out walk from NSU reliever Chase Anderson and took second on a wild pitch. An NSU error allowed Tommy Jordan to reach base and Zielecki to score to bring DSU (4-8, 1-0) within 4-2.

Another Spartan error and a walk to Evan Regez loaded the bases, and Maisonet lined a double into the right-field corner to clear the bases and give the Hornets their first lead of the game.

NSU looked like it would stage a rally of its own in the ninth as Tony Leite led off with a single and Ismael Herrera coaxed a walk from Hornet reliever Terry Godfrey. DSU closer Darrien Ragins then threw a wild pitch to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with no outs.

But Ragins struck out the next three Spartans to give DSU the dramatic win.

The game began as a pitcher's duel between starters Alex Mauricio of NSU and Lane DeLeon of DSU. The Spartans scratched across a pair of runs in the fourth as Justin Burrell singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. Then after a perfectly executed hit-and-run single by Herrera, Leite and Herrera pulled off a double-steal of home and second bases, respectively, to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

The score remained that way till the eighth, as DSU pushed across a run thanks to a bases-loaded walk. But Anderson induced an inning-ending double-play to keep the Spartans in front.

NSU added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth. Brian Beard reached on a two-out error before Roger Hall followed with an RBI double and Burrell a run-scoring triple to give NSU the 4-1 advantage.

But the lead would not hold as the Hornets took advantage of two errors, two walks and just one hit to surge in front.

Maisonet finished with half of the Hornets' hits, going 4-for-5. Kwestin Smith was 2-for-4.

Burrell and Hall each went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Spartans, and Herrera was 2-for-3.

Mauricio struck out eight over 6.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision for the Spartans. Anderson (1-2) took the loss despite all four runs charged to his record being unearned.

Godfrey allowed two unearned runs over two-plus innings of work for DSU to get the pitching victory.

The teams play a doubleheader on Monday beginning at noon.