Delaware State scored three runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth in an 8-1 victory over Towson in the Hornets’ home opener at Soldier Field Tuesday.

DSU starter Travis Dill (1-1) threw five shutout innings, striking out four, to earn his first win of the season.

The Hornets (3-7) pounded out a season-high 14 hits. Austin Bentley was 2-for-5 and three runs batted in, while freshman Ciaran Devenney had three hits, including a double, in five at bats.

Bentley leads the team with eight RBI, while Devenney tops the Hornets with a .333 average.

Catcher Even Regez was 2-for-2 with a RBI.  Regez has hit in six straight games, batting .458 (11-for-24) during the span.

Caesar Rodney graduate Travis Dill sends a fastball to the plate in Delaware State’s game against Towson Tuesday afternoon. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)[/caption]

The Hornets opened the scoring with three runs in the fourth. Devenney doubled to lead off the inning and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Jordan. Regez singled in the second run of the inning and Bentley brought home a run when he reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Delaware State’s pitcher Travis Dill caught a Towson base runner leaning and picked him off first base with the help of Hornet teammate Evan Regez.[/caption]

Delaware State added five runs in the fifth to stretch its lead. Adrian Hill singled home the first run of the inning, while Bentley had a two-run single in the frame to give the Hornets an 8-0 lead.

Delaware 17, UMBC 6: Behind 10 extra base hits, 17 runs, and 19 hits, the University of Delaware baseball team defeated UMBC.

“Today and yesterday (at 15-5 win over Delaware State) were certainly the offensive performances we were expecting coming into the year,” Delaware head coach Jim Sherman said. “Today our offensive approach early was excellent. Nick (Tierno) and Kevin (Mohollen) had great games, and (Matt) Hornich was solid on the mound. We now have to try and keep it going as we head toward the weekend and another two tough teams coming in here.”

Nick Patten and Brian Mayer each homered for the second consecutive day and the Blue Hens received a pair of triples from outfielder Kevin Mohollen and second baseman Nick Tierno en route to posting another lopsided win.

On the mound, the Blue Hens (5-6) received a good outing from starter Matt Hornich. Hornich (2-1) went six innings, scattering six hits and two runs against the Retrievers (1-6).

At the plate, Delaware produced two home runs, four doubles, and four triples. Every member of the starting lineup produced a hit and five players scored multiple runs. In addition, six Delaware players produced multiple hits and five players drove in multiple runs.

In total the Hens had five innings where they scored two runs or more, including scoring four in the third and five in the seventh.

Shortstop Tommy Jordan of Delaware State puts a tag on Towson’s Dirk Masters trying to steal second Tuesday.[/caption]

The Blue Hens have now won three in a row and five of their last six games. Delaware has now scored 15 runs or more in consecutive games for the first time since April of 2015.

Delaware will look for its fourth consecutive win in a row on Friday when the Blue Hens welcome in Binghamton and Wagner for the Delaware Invitational.

Men’s lacrosse

Delaware 12, Manhattan 9: The Blue Hens got multiple goals from four players on the way their fourth win in a row.

Delaware (5-2), riding its longest winning streak since the 2010 season, pummeled the Jaspers with 50 shots and committed just eight turnovers on their way to the victory. The upstart Blue Hens have already matched their win total from each of the last two seasons.

Senior midfielder Matt Olbrich recorded his first career hat trick, Joe Eisele scored twice and dished out an assist, Charlie Kitchen scored two goals to extend a school-record, and Will Hirschmann tallied twice to lead a balanced UD effort that saw nine different players score a point.

On the defensive end, the Blue Hens forced a season-high 19 turnovers with senior co-captain Brian Pickup causing three of them while also delivered his first career goal. Delaware freshman goalkeeper Matt DeLuca remained undefeated in four starts in the nets with nine saves.

“You always walk away happy with a win,” said Delaware head coach Bob Shillinglaw, who picked up career victory No. 332. “This was not the sharpest game we’ve had this season but our guys grinded it out and we got the W and that is the important thing. I thought the key today was that we did a great job defensively, swarming, double-teaming, and getting the transition game going out of that. We did a nice job of creating turnovers today and I was particularly pleased with the play of Olbrich, Pickup, and Alex Brunner (three groundballs).”

Delaware State first baseman Evan Regez recovers a bobbled grounder with his bare hand but not in time to put out a Towson batter during Tuesday’s game in Dover.[/caption]

Manhattan (2-4), which lost its second straight game, got two goals from Brandon Grinnell and 16 saves from goalkeeper Michael Zingaro. Delaware held the Jaspers’ leading scorer - Parker Giarratana (15 goals) to just a single goal and an assist.

Delaware scored the first three goals of the game before Manhattan scored three straight of its own to knot the score at 3-3 early in the second quarter. But the Hens answered with another three-goal run to take the lead for good and build a 6-4 advantage at the break. Manhattan pulled to within two goals three different times in the second half but the Hens answered every rally.

College bowling

DSU finishes fourth at Monmouth: Delaware State had an impressive showing its final tune-up before the MEAC Tournament later this month. The Hornets finished fourth in the 16-team Monmouth Hawk Flight last weekend with a 9-4 overall record. DSU was 5-0 in regular team games and a 4-4 mark in Baker play.

The Hornets were in second place after day two of the tournament, but came up short in three matches on the final day.

Delaware State was 4-1 during Friday’s opening Baker competition, including a victory over host Monmouth, which is ranked 12th in the March National Tenpin Coaches Association poll.

DSU is ninth in the latest poll, down one spot from the previous month.

The Hornets were 5-0 In Saturday’s regular team play, highlighted by a victory over No. 6 Fairleigh Dickinson.

DSU fell to three nationally-ranked teams (#4 Sam Houston State), (#6 Fairleigh Dickinson) and (#5 Vanderbilt) in Sunday’s finale.

Individually, Hornet freshman Alexis Neuer was named to the All-Tournament Team after tallying a total pinfall of 1029 in five games (205.8 avg.). She had three 200-plus games, including a high of 234.