Dover, Del. (Mar. 2, 2019) --- Marist scored ten runs in its last three at bats en route to a 12-2 victory over Delaware State in the Hornets' 2019 home opener at Soldier Field today.

The score was 2-2 when the Red Foxes scored three runs in the seventh inning, three in the eighth and four in the ninth to take over the game.

The contest was scoreless until Delaware State drew first blood with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Miquel Rivera and Jared Gillis singled to lead off the fourth, giving the Hornets runners at second and first.  After Rivera advanced to third on a fly out by Rich Rountree, he crossed the plate on an infield single by catcher Adrian Hill for the game's first run.  DSU had runners on first and third with one out later in the inning, but failed to add to its lead.

After Delaware State starter Garrett Lawson kept Marist off the board in the fifth, the Hornets took their 1-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. Tommy Jordan doubled to lead off the DSU fifth and scored on a one-out single by Darnell Maisonet to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.

Marist finally got to Lawson in the sixth. Frankie Gregoire smacked a two-out solo homer right to give the Red Foxes their first run and later in the inning Matt Rubayo doubled home Robbie Armitage to tie the score.

The scored remain tied after DSU failed to score in its half of the sixth.

Lawson retired the first two men he faced in the seventh, but he was relieved by Jeremy Carrow after the next two batters reached base. The bases were loaded with two outs when Armitage singled up the middle off Carrow to give Marist a 4-2 lead. The Foxes tacked on another run in the seventh to open up a three-run advantage.

Nick Cantone's two-run single was the big blow in the Marist eighth, while Randy Taveras singled in two in the ninth for the visitors.

Hill had three hits in four at bats and Jordan was three-for-five to highlight DSU's 10-hit attack. Nine batters hit safely for Marist, which collected 14 base knocks.

Lawson (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Hornets, allowing seven hits and four runs, while striking out five and walking three in 6.2 innings.

Reliever Ryan Cardona was the winning pitcher for Marist after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning five.

Marist won its fourth straight game to improve to 4-3, while the Hornets fell to 2-4.

The teams will wrap up the series with two seven-inning games on Sunday. Game one is scheduled to get underway at 11:00 a.m. at Soldier Field.