WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — Michael Lane pitched eight innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts, and the Delaware State Hornets built an early lead to defeat the New Haven Chargers 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Charger Gymnasium.

Lane, who entered with a 6.94 ERA after allowing seven earned runs in five innings against Wagner on May 1, faced the minimum through the first three innings and did not permit a hit after the opening frame. He walked one and gave up only a first-inning single to Jake Russo that drove in New Haven’s first run. The Hornets, improving to 6-39, snapped a five-game losing streak. New Haven fell to 10-30.

Delaware State put up two runs in the top of the first. Rosnell Lewis singled and scored on a two-run single by Carter Boyd. Boyd later added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and finished with three RBIs. Santino Harwood went 2 for 4 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

The Hornets stretched the lead to 4-1 in the third. After Boyd singled, Jabril Bullock reached on an error and Alec Rodriguez drove in a run with a single. Bullock scored on a wild pitch. Delaware State added another run in the fourth on Harwood’s sacrifice fly and Boyd’s second sacrifice fly, making it 6-2.

New Haven’s Jace VanValkenburg relieved starter Max Hilsenroth in the fourth and pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. He held Delaware State scoreless after the fourth.

The Chargers chipped away. After scoring twice in the first, including an unearned run on a throwing error, New Haven added a run in the eighth when Jaylin Manson scored on another throwing error by the shortstop. In the ninth, Joseph Frazzetta singled and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Michael Christian, who drove in the fourth run. The Chargers loaded the bases with two outs, but Cam McGugan grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

James Breen pitched the ninth for Delaware State, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out one.

Key contributors for the Hornets included Boyd, who went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Harwood with two hits and an RBI, Hassan Turner with a double and a stolen base, and Lewis with two hits and a steal. For New Haven, Russo went 1 for 4 with an RBI, and Christian went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

The game marked the first of a two-game series between the Northeast Conference opponents. The teams are scheduled to meet again Sunday.

Interstat’s ELO system gave New Haven an 81.50 percent probability to win the game.