DOVER, Del. – Trey Paige was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer to propel host Delaware State to a 13-6 win over Norfolk State in the opener of the teams' four-game weekend series Thursday at Bob Reed Field.

NSU (10-21, 7-10 MEAC) led 6-4 after the top of the fourth inning, only to see the Hornets (12-15, 9-8) score nine unanswered runs to pull away.

DSU scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, but the Spartans quickly countered with two runs in the top of the second. Steven Shaffer continued his recent tear with an RBI double and Kam Walker's sacrifice fly put NSU in front, 2-1.

The Hornets went back ahead in their half of the second thanks to three RBI hits, but NSU answered with four straight runs. Jacob Council hit a two-run homer in the third inning, and both Raphy Rodriguez and Tanner Brandon tallied run-scoring doubles in the fourth to give NSU a 6-4 edge.

The Hornets started their surge in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three times. Alan Alonso hit a sacrifice fly and Brady Daniels hit an RBI double to tie things up. Krew Bouldin scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.

Paige gave DSU breathing room with a three-run homer in the fifth. Jordan King added a solo homer in the sixth and the Hornets tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh.

Council and Shaffer both went 2-for-4 and Brandon was 2-for-5 to pace the Spartans, who notched 10 hits – six of them going for extra bases. Council had two runs scored and two RBIs.

Paige scored four runs and Daniels had two RBIs for DSU, which saw all nine of its starting hitters record at least one base hit.

The teams play a doubleheader starting at noon on Friday.