Nick Vera’s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Delaware a comeback 3-2 win over UNCW in CAA baseball on Saturday afternoon.

Reliever Zach Klapak set the Seahawks down in order in the ninth as the Blue Hens avenged a one-run, 11-inning loss to UNCW on Friday night.

“This was another good conference game that was almost a playoff atmosphere,” said UD coach Jim Sherman. “UNCW and Delaware always get after it. ... I’m really happy for the fans who got to watch some really good CAA baseball.”

The Seahawks (7-4 CAA, 22-15 overall) scored a run in the top of the seventh to push its lead to 2-0. But Dover High grad Jordan Hutchins, playing in center field, threw out a runner at the plate for an inning-ending double play.

The Hens (6-5 CAA, 22-15 overall) then got within 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh when J.J. Freeman crushed a homer to right.

In the eighth, the Hens had the tying run thrown out at the plate. But Vera followed with a towering shot over the leftfield fence to give Delaware its 3-2 lead.

Klapak retired all eight batters he faced in three perfect innings.

Hornets win opener: Delaware State won game one 7-4 while Coppin State rallied in the nightcap for a 5-2 win in a MEAC doubleheader.

Krew Bouldin led the Hornets (12-11 MEAC, 15-18 overall) in game one with three hits and three RBI. Trey Paige blasted his league-leading ninth home run of the season.

Miguel Rivera (Polytech) paced Delaware State in the nightcap with two hits.

Men’s lacrosse

Delaware 16, Drexel 15: Mike Robinson scored the game-winning goal with just nine seconds left as the Blue Hens stayed in contention for a CAA Tournament spot.

The Dragons tied the contest at 15-15 with 1:31 remaining. But Delaware called a timeout with 30 seconds to go before Robinson scooped up a ball and scored the game-winning goal in an open net.

Tye Kurtz finished with a career-high eight goals for the Hens (2-2 CAA, 8-5 overall).

Softball

Delaware takes split: Brittney Mendoza had six hits over the two games as the Blue Hens split a CAA doubleheader with Hofstra.

Delaware lost the opener, 6-5, before using a seven-run second inning to win the second game 8-5. UD moves to 27-14 overall and 10-4 in the CAA, remaining just ahead of Hofstra (16-22, 9-4) in the standings.

Brooke Glanden (Lake Forest) had two hits and three RBI in the opener.

Norfolk State 7, Delaware State 2: Kenna Higa hit a grand slam in Norfolk State’s five-run first inning to highlight the Spartans’ win in the opener of a three-game MEAC series.

Kyla Johnson and pinch runner Sydney Glisson scored on wild pitches in the seventh inning to account for Delaware State’s runs. The Hornets are now 3-13 in the MEAC, 4-27 overall.

Norfolk State starter Joana Vallejo allowed just four hits and struck out 12 to earn the win.

Women’s lacrosse

James Madison 14, Delaware 11: The Blue Hens couldn’t hang onto a two-goal, third-quarter lead as the No. 11 Dukes out-scored Delaware, 5-1, in the fourth quarter to pull out the CAA win.

Sydni Rosa and Lizzie Hsu each scored three goals for the Blue Hens (2-3 CAA, 5-10 overall). Goalkeeper Mercy McCarthy had eight stops.