By Andy Walter

Delaware smacked six home runs in posting a 19-9 win over Hofstra in CAA baseball on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Hens (2-1 CAA, 6-9 overall) took two out of three in the conference-opening series.

In the third inning, J.J. Freeman (3-for-6, 5 RBI) deposited a grand slam over the right-field wall and Dan Covino followed with his first home run of the game to give Delaware a 9-1 lead.

The Pride later closed within three before Brett Lesher led off the fifth with his second homer of the series. The Hens scored three more in the fifth to make it a 13-6 game.

In the sixth, Covino hit his second home run of the game to right field, stretching the lead to 15-6.

In the eighth, Joey Loynd responded with a two-run shot, his third home run of the weekend. Jackson Tyer then sent his first career homer over the fence, stretching the Hens’ advantage to 19-9.

Merrimack 9, Delaware State 4: The Warriors posted a five-run second inning to take control before winning the NEC series with its second win in the three-game set.

Three of Delaware State’s four runs came by way of solo home runs from three different players. Chris Amparo, Wilfredo Mendez and Nick Gnardellis all homered.

For Gnardellis, it was his third home run in two games.

College lacrosse

Two Hens earn CAA honors: Delaware men’s lacrosse attackman Tye Kurtz and defenseman Owen Grant were named Colonial Athletic Association’s Players of the Week.

For Kurtz, this is his second CAA Offensive Player of the Week honor. He tallied six goals and five assists, helping the Blue Hens to wins against UMBC and Monmouth.

The redshirt senior leads the country in goals with 27 and is second in points with 39.

Grant was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after causing six turnovers, collecting seven ground balls, and scoring his first goal of the season last week. At the time, he was one of two active players in the country with 100 or more career-caused turnovers.

WOMEN, Denver 13, Delaware 6: Sixth-ranked Denver netted the game’s first five goals before downing the Blue Hens.

Lizzie Yurchak scored twice for Delaware (4-4) while Sophia Fooey made 10 saves.

College softball

Charleston 9, Delaware 0: The Blue Hens dropped to 1-2 in the CAA, 8-12 overall with the loss on Sunday.

The Cougars got all the scoring they needed in the bottom of the first inning, scoring six runs on just two hits while taking advantage of three hit batters, two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball.

Julz Garber had Delaware’s only hit while Kiara Mills and Brittney Mendoza each drew a walk.

After playing its first 20 games of the season on the road, the Blue Hens will return home on Wednesday for their home opener. UD will host Saint Joseph’s in a 3 p.m. contest in the first of nine-consecutive home games.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.