NORFOLK, Va. – After dropping game one of Saturday's doubleheader with Delaware State 14-0, Norfolk State rebounded with a hard-fought 4-2 win in the nightcap at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Spartans (18-21, 13-7 MEAC North) were outhit 16-3 in dropping the opener in seven innings, but bounced back with 11 hits and a strong start on the mound from Ridge Walker in game two to earn the split.

In game one, DSU (14-22, 9-11) starting pitcher Garrett Lawson pitched a seven-inning, three-hit shutout, striking out seven batters without walking any. He got plenty of support from his offense. Jared Gillis hit four RBI singles and also doubled in a 5-for-5 effort. His first RBI single in the top of the first gave the Hornets a quick 1-0 lead, and he hit three more in the second, fourth and sixth innings as well.

John Weglarz and Mark Herron also hit RBI singles in a three-run second which saw the Hornets' lead increase to 4-0. Rich Rountree tacked on a grand slam just inside the right-field foul pole in a six-run Hornet sixth, which saw 11 DSU batters come to the plate.

Brandon Crosby, Adam Collins and Ty Hanchey had the hits, all singles, for NSU.

The Spartans got the early upper hand in game two. Justin Hayes hit the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning into the gap in right field for a triple. He scored when Hornet starter Sean McGrath's next pitch bounced away from the catcher.

DSU tied it in the top of the second on Alex Vasquez's two-out RBI single and took a 2-1 lead in the third on another Gillis RBI single.

The Spartans tied it up in the bottom of the third. Caleb Ward walked and stole second, and Stephen Baughan singled to put runners on the corners. Adam Collins hit an RBI groundout to square the score at 2-all.

Spartan freshman shortstop Trent Hanchey provided the go-ahead hit in the bottom of the fifth. McGrath retired the first two batters of the inning, but Khie Simms doubled to put the tying run in scoring position. Hanchey then hit a sharp double over the first-base bag to score Simms and tie the game.

Korey Singh added insurance for the Spartans in the bottom of the seventh when he belted a one-out solo homer well over the wall in right, giving NSU a 4-2 lead.

Led by Walker (4-6), three Spartan pitchers combined to limit DSU to just five hits. Walker gave up just four hits and two runs over seven innings, his longest start since stifling DSU over eight frames in mid-March. Walker walked two and struck out two. Seth Hockett fanned two in a 1-2-3 eighth innings, and Trey Hanchey collected his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Baughan matched his career high with four hits in the nightcap, going 4-for-4 with an intentional walk. Simms was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Alsander Womack batted 2-for-4.

Gills was 6-for-8 during the doubleheader for the Hornets.

The teams conclude their series with a 1 p.m. game Sunday on Senior Day for NSU.