The University of Delaware baseball team evened its Colonial Athletic Association series with James Madison Saturday afternoon as the Blue Hens struck early with five runs in the first inning and used a solid performance from starter Brandon Walter to easily post a 16-6 victory at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Blue Hens (17-10, 1-4 CAA) snapped a five-game losing streak in a big way as they banged out 15 hits, including two home runs, and avenged a 7-3 loss to the Dukes (12-15, 3-2 CAA) in Friday’s opener. The two teams will square off in the rubber-match today at 1 p.m.

Delaware junior leftfielder Jordan Glover went 2 for 4 with four RBI and a home run while second baseman Nick Tierno was 3 for 5 with four runs scored and two RBI, shortstop Jeremy Ake went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and third baseman Diaz Nardo (Cape Henlopen High) had two RBI, including a solo home run in the fifth inning.

In addition to the big opening inning, the Hens also put up four runs in the fifth and six more in the seventh as the reached double figures in runs for the eighth time this season.

“It was a big day for Jordan Glover, Nick Tierno, and Jeremy Ake as they all swung the bat really well,” said Delaware coach Jim Sherman. “We needed this win, and we’ll go out and get the series win tomorrow.”

Walter, a freshman lefthander, earned the win for Delaware as he pitched six solid innings, giving up only one run on three hits and striking out seven JMU batters. He improved to 3-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.46.

Hornets split with UMES: Freshman Sean McGrath tossed a complete game to lead Delaware State to a 4-3 win over UMES in game two of a MEAC North doubleheader at Soldier Field. UMES scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take the opener 5-2.

In the seven-inning nightcap, McGrath allowed four hits and three runs, while striking out 10 and walking one. He fanned at least one batter in each inning, punching out the side in the fifth and two hitters in the seventh.

McGrath’s performance gave Delaware State its first complete game and home victory of the season.

In the opener, the score was 2-2 in the top of the ninth when Tom Summers doubled in the go-ahead run and Trower followed with a two-run double to provide the winning margin for the Hawks.

The doubleheader split gives Delaware State a 5-21 overall record and 5-2 mark in the MEAC, while UMES stands at 6-19 and 2-5.

Two victories for Wesley: The Wolverines extended their winning streak to four games with a pair of victories over Capital Athletic Conference opponent Southern Virginia University, downing the Knights 10-4 and 9-6 on Saturday afternoon.

Ron Morello led the Wesley bats, going 7-for-9 from the plate in the two games combined. The outfielder finished with a double, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored on the day. KeAndre Jones kept his hitting streak going with a single in game one and three hits in game two. His streak is now at 15 games.

Eric Willey went seven strong innings in game one allowing just three runs before Cody Simet entered for a two-inning save in which he allowed one run. Sam Meck got the starting nod in game two and tossed seven innings for the win. Alex Marrs and Aaron Briggs each allowed one run in one inning of relief.

College lacrosse

MEN, Delaware 9, UMass 7: The Blue Hens’s biggest win of the men’s lacrosse season could not have come at a better time Saturday afternoon as they scored the first four goals of the final quarter to break a tie and moved on to a win over No. 19 ranked Massachusetts in the Colonial Athletic Association opener at Delaware Stadium.

Blue Hen sophomore Dean DiSimone netted his second consecutive hat trick as he scored two of his three goals during the pivotal fourth quarter barrage that pushed the Delaware lead to 9-5 with 2:16 left to play.

UMass (4-5, 0-1 CAA), which had a two-game win streak snapped, scored twice in the final two minutes but the Blue Hens (4-7, 1-0 CAA) held on down the stretch and snapped a two-game losing streak of their own.

Delaware, playing at home for the first time since Mar. 5, won for the first time since a 12-11 triumph over Binghamton on Mar. 12.

Delaware’s win was its first over a Top 20 opponent since a 13-9 victory over then No. 8 Villanova during the 2012 season and gave the Hens a win in their conference opener for the first time since 2011.

Mary Washington 19, Wesley 8: The Wolverines fell behind early and was unable to mount a comeback in a Capital Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Jack Redefer netted five goals and Nate Gemmato passed off three assists to lead the Wesley offense. Sam Seibert finished with a goal and an assist while Will Fingles scored twice for the Wolverines. Ryan Ramsey led the way with a pair of caused turnovers while Seibert won over half his faceoffs and scooped up six ground balls. Cody Ireland made 12 saves in goal for the Wolverines and came away with a pair of ground balls.

WOMEN, St. Mary’s 19, Wesley 6: Fallon Fore and Bailey Olds each scored a pair of goals for the Wolverines while Foley Wassmuth dished out a pair of assists but Wesley couldn’t overcome a large deficit. Allison Perugini and Summer Stone each threw out an assist while Brianna Bacon and Alexis Galloway each tallied a goal.

Galloway led the defense with a season-high five caused turnovers and scooped a team-high three ground balls. Rodneisha Scott, Khadijah Sanders, and Savannah Clough each had three ground balls as well. Foley Wassmuth secured a team-best four draw controls while Bacon snagged three. Clough made 17 saves for the Wolverines between the pipes.

High school lacrosse

BOYS, Wilmington Friends 7, Caesar Rodney 3: The Riders dropped a nonconference contest despite out-shooting the Quakers, 17-15.

Sussex Tech 17, Sanford 8: Ian Carlisle and Jason Whaley netted five goals apiece as the Ravens earned a noncoference victory.

GIRLS, Cape Henlopen 8, Queen Anne’s (Md.) 6: Lizzie Frederick’s four goals paced the Vikings who defeated Queen Anne’s for the first time in four seasons.

College softball

Hornets smash Eagles: The Delaware State softball team (13-14, 6-2 MEAC) continued its stellar play of late Saturday afternoon by ousting the visiting Coppin State Eagles (2-21, 2-6 MEAC) by combining to bat .556 with 33 runs, 30 hits, 27 RBI and four homers to pull off a pair of five-inning victories, 18-2 and 15-5.

With these wins, the Hornets have now won six out of their last seven, in addition to moving to 13-0 against Coppin State since falling 2-1 at home to the Eagles on April 15, 2012. CSU, meanwhile, has now dropped four in a row, after taking two out of three at home from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe UMES last weekend.

Wesley drops a pair: The Wolverines team took a few lumps on the day, falling in both of their games against Capital Athletic Conference rival Frostburg State University 9-1 and 13-8.

Kayla Fromal went 5-for-6 on the day including a home run and a double. The senior drove in a pair of runs and scored three runs. Samantha Burns went 5-for-8 on the day with two runs scored and one run batted in.

The Wolverine offense was stymied in game one as they were limited to just one run on eight scattered hits. Wesley’s lone game one score came in the third inning when Burns led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Breanna Hartman and came in two batters later on a single by Ashley Royer.