DUNDALK, Md. (April 17, 2016)-The visiting Delaware State Hornets softball team completed a three-game series sweep over Morgan State on Sunday afternoon, following an 8-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division victory at CCBC Dundalk Softball Field.
 
The win was the eighth straight for the northern division leading Hornets, who improved to 20-16 overall and 13-2 in MEAC action. Morgan State fell to 10-24, 5-6 in the MEAC. Delaware State is now one win or a Norfolk State loss away from wrapping up the division crown.
 
Delaware State continued its dominance over the Lady Bears, as it outscored Morgan State, 28-3 in the three-game series, and held a 32-9 advantage in hits over the three games.
 
The Hornets improved to 73-31 all-time against Morgan State and has now won 16 of the last 19 meetings against the Lady Bears. Since 2004, Delaware State has a 40-5 record against Morgan State, including 18 straight wins from 2004-2008 and has yet to drop a season series to the Lady Bears dating from the 2004 season.  
 
The guests broke a scoreless game in the top of the third inning when Chloe Oro singled to left field to score Jordan Stamps and give Delaware State a 1-0 lead. The Hornets then added two more runs in the fifth inning, when Haley Jones hit a two-run single, which scored both Oro and Sandy Hawthorne for a 3-0 lead.
 
Delaware State came right back in the very next inning and scored three more runs in the top of the sixth to extend its cushion to 6-0, when Hawthorne cleared the bases with her bases loaded double hit to left center field.
 
Unfortunately, the Hornets weren't done yet, as they would add two runs in the seventh inning. Mika Lumsden doubled to right center field to bring in a run and Stamps hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Khaliyah Flournory for the final run.
 
Delaware State was led by Hawthorne, Jones and Quarles, who all went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hawthorne finished with a game-high 3RBI, while Jones had 2RBI. Tara Tursellino (11-7) pitched a complete game and picked up the win for the Hornets. She surrendered three hits, three walks and had eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.
 
Morgan State was led by Damali Young, Kate Vosper and Audrianna Alvarez, who each recorded a hit. Vosper, Alvarez and Danielle Pitpit each drew a walk. Amy Begg fell to 7-12 on the season and recorded three strikeouts in five innings pitched.
 
The Lady Bears return to CCBC Dundalk Softball Field on Saturday, April 23 for the doubleheader portion of its three-game MEAC series against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 1 p.m. The series will shift on Sunday to CSU Softball Field on the Coppin State campus for a single game.