NORFOLK, Va. – After being mostly stymied for the first six innings, Delaware State scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 win over Norfolk State in the series opener between the teams on Friday night at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Hornets (4-24, 2-8 MEAC), who had just four hits in the first six innings, erupted for four in the seventh alone and took advantage of an NSU (8-18, 6-4) miscue to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead. After hits by Maurice Parsons and Adrian Hill put runners on second and third with one out, John Weglarz tied the game at 2 with a single just past a drawn-in infield. Rich Rountree's RBI double gave the Hornets the lead, and Miguel Rivera's sacrifice fly made it 4-2. A dropped popup with two outs accounted for the final run of the inning to give DSU a 5-2 advantage.

NSU had a prime scoring opportunity in the eighth. Johnny Mayer and Justin Hayes led off with consecutive singles to end DSU starter Lane DeLeon's night. DSU reliever Travis Dill retired the next two batters before walking Aaron Robinson to load the bases. But Dill notched a strikeout to strand all three runners and escape unharmed.

Dill then worked a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. He struck out four in his two innings pitched.

DeLeon and NSU starter Chase Anderson traded scoreless frames for the first four innings before NSU broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Tony Leite was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then stole second base. Syeed Mahdi singled him in and took second on the throw home. Mahdi then stole third base and scored on a Hornet error.

The Hornets halved their deficit by scoring a two-out run on a Spartan error in the sixth. 

Anderson (3-3) struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings. He allowed eight hits and five runs, three earned, in taking the loss. 

DeLeon (1-3) pitched seven-plus innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out four.

Seven different Spartans accounted for one hit apiece. Hill, Weglarz and Darnell Maisonet had two each for the Hornets.

The teams will not play Saturday due to anticipated inclement weather. They finish the series with a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m.