ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Interstat) — The Navy baseball team erupted for nine runs in the second inning and cruised to a 12-0 victory over Delaware State on Tuesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

The Midshipmen (3-1) sent 13 batters to the plate in the decisive second frame, turning a scoreless game into a rout. The inning featured six hits, two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch, overwhelming Delaware State starter Ryan Mejia and reliever Shane Carter.

Victor Izquierdo delivered the biggest blow of the inning, a three-run homer to left-center field that capped an early outburst and extended Navy’s lead to 6-0. The home run followed an RBI double from Chris Klug and an RBI triple from Patrick Walsh, who opened the scoring. Mason Ceccarelli added an RBI double later in the inning as Navy batted around.

The offensive surge provided more than enough support for Navy starter Tyler Grenn and three relievers, who combined on a two-hit shutout. The Hornets (0-5) managed just a second-inning single by Jancarlos Batts and a seventh-inning triple by Alex Rodriguez, failing to advance a runner past third base.

Navy added to its lead with two runs in the third inning, one on another RBI double from Klug and another on a passed ball. The Midshipmen tacked on three more in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run single from Izquierdo, who finished with five RBIs, and an RBI fielder’s choice from Aidan Manning.

Grenn earned the win, working five innings and allowing just the two hits while striking out four and walking one. Mikey Plummer, Jackson Beattie and Tyler Grenn each contributed a scoreless inning of relief to preserve the shutout.

Mejia took the loss for Delaware State, surrendering seven runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings. The Hornets used four pitchers in the game.

The victory extends Navy’s strong early-season form, while Delaware State’s winless start continues. The Hornets have been outscored 70-12 through their first five games.

Navy next travels to South Carolina for games against Air Force and the University of South Carolina this weekend. Delaware State continues its road swing with a three-game series at La Salle beginning Friday.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the bottom of the second inning. After two quiet frames from both sides, Navy’s offense exploded, fundamentally deciding the contest in one prolonged at-bat. The sequence transformed a pitchers’ duel into a lopsided affair, demoralizing a struggling Delaware State team and allowing Navy to comfortably deploy its bullpen. The nine-run inning provided an insurmountable cushion and set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon.