DOVER, Del. – Norfolk State used a two-run single by Alsander Womack to take the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Delaware State by a 3-2 score in 11 innings, clinching the weekend series for the Spartans.

NSU (18-21, 14-6 MEAC) dropped the second game by a 9-4 score, snapping the Spartans' longest winning streak in four years at nine games. But NSU solidified its position in first place in the MEAC North over the weekend, taking three of four on the road from the second-place Hornets (12-17, 10-9 MEAC).

In the opener, starting pitchers James Deloatch of NSU and Jordan Haddaway of DSU were nearly unhittable. Deloatch took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the scheduled seven-inning affair, while NSU managed just one hit in the first 10 innings off Haddaway and his bullpen mates. Ultimately, it was a clutch hit from Womack that sealed the key series win for NSU.

The Spartans got the first hit and run of the game for either team in the fifth. Minjae Hong's one-out single in the fifth was the first base hit of the contest, and it moved Danny Hosley, who walked, to third base. Phillip Boykin walked to load the bases and Dionte Brown drew another free pass to force in the first run.

Trey Paige's infield single with two outs in the sixth accounted for the first hit of the game off Deloatch. The Spartan left hander kept DSU off the board in that inning, but not the seventh. Krew Bouldin walked to start the seventh, and pinch runner Arthur Burrell scored on a Jared Gillis double that tied things up. But Spartan reliever Michael Portela retired the next three hitters to force extra innings.

NSU loaded the bases in the eighth and ninth and DSU did so in the 10th, but neither team could cash in until the 11th. NSU shortstop Hosley led off the inning with a single, NSU's second hit of the game. After a sacrifice by Khie Simms and a popout, Dylan Flint walked to extend the inning. A wild pitch moved the runners up and a walk to Trent Hanchey loaded the bases. Womack followed with a single to center field, scoring Hosley and Flint to make it 3-1.

Tripp Kimmell's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th cut the Hornets' deficit in half, but Spartan lefty Tyrin Everette got Miguel Rivera to fly out with a runner on second to end it. 

Deloatch went six-plus innings and allowed just two hits and one run. He walked five and struck out six. Portela worked 3.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and Everette (2-0) pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn the win.

Haddaway took a no-decision for DSU. He allowed just one hit and one run in six innings.

In game two, the Spartans jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two and a half innings, but the Hornets scored nine unanswered runs to prevent the sweep.

In the first inning, Dionte Brown led off with a double and took third on a double by Womack. Ty Hanchey hit a sacrifice fly to score Brown, and one out later, Jacob Council ripped a two-run homer to give NSU a 3-0 lead. It was Council's second homer of the season.

Both Brown and Womack singled in the third, and Brown scored on a single by Mason Velasquez. But Womack was thrown out at home on the hit, keeping the Spartan lead at 4-0.

It was all Hornets from there. Paige scored on a wild pitch and Kimmell hit an RBI double as DSU cut its lead in half in the third. DSU tied it in the fourth on an NSU error and a Rivera fielder's choice.

Paige scored on a wild pitch and Kimmell hit an RBI double as the Hornets took the lead in the fifth, and they added three more insurance runs in the sixth.

Both teams had nine hits in the nightcap. Brown went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Womack was 2-for-4. Both led NSU with three hits total on the day.

Dalton Barham (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four earned runs, six total, in 4.1 innings of work. Corey Loper got the win for DSU despite giving up nine hits and four runs in 5.1 innings.

The first-place Spartans are back home for a four-game series with Florida A&M next Friday through Sunday. Friday's 4 p.m. contest will be broadcast live on ESPNU.