LEIPSIC, Del. (Interstat) — In a matchup of teams seeking momentum in a difficult season, the Delaware State Hornets rallied from an early four-run deficit to edge the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks 5-4 on Friday at Soldier Field.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, featured a decisive third-inning outburst by the Hornets, who sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs to overtake the Hawks. That surge proved to be the difference as both bullpens held firm over the final six innings.

Maryland-Eastern Shore (5-24) struck immediately. Julian Jimenez led off the game with a solo home run, and Ansel Carson added another solo shot in the third inning. Christian Azcona contributed an RBI single in the second, staking the Hawks to a 4-0 lead.

Delaware State (3-26) began its comeback in the first inning, scratching out a run on a bases-loaded walk by Jaryn Sample. The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the third. Jabril Bullock led off with a double and scored on an RBI double by Alec Rodriguez. After two walks loaded the bases, Caleb King grounded out to shortstop, driving in Rodriguez. Hassan Turner then delivered the pivotal blow, a two-run single to center field that scored Jaryn Sample and Andrew Shute, giving the Hornets a 5-4 advantage they would not relinquish.

The Hawks threatened in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring a run on an RBI single by Joshua Caldwell that cut the deficit to one. With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first, Delaware State reliever Sean Ely entered the game and induced an inning-ending flyout to left field from Diego Aponte.

Hawks reliever Henry Clausell, who entered in the fourth inning, provided stability, but the Hornets’ trio of Michael Lane, Ely and James Breen combined to allow just one run over the final 6 1/3 innings. Breen earned the save with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

Both teams finished with 10 hits. For Delaware State, Turner’s two-RBI single was the key offensive moment, while Justin Batts and Rodriguez each had two hits. For the Hawks, Jimenez and Carson homered, and Caldwell had two hits and an RBI.

The victory marked a rare positive result for Delaware State, which entered the game having lost 10 of its last 11. Maryland-Eastern Shore has now lost four straight. The result defied the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 2-1 Hawks victory, though it aligned with the system’s ELO rating that gave the Hornets a 61.7% probability to win.

The two teams continue their Northeast Conference series on Saturday and Sunday in Leipsic.