DOVER, Delaware - Josh Jackson of Delaware State smacked a walk-off home run off Maryland Eastern Shore pitcher Dwayne Marshall (Piscataway, New Jersey), causing the Hawks to be swept by the Hornets Saturday (Apr. 21) at Soldier Field in Dover.

As a result Delaware State (7-29, 5-11 MEAC) catapults over The Shore (9-30, 5-12 MEAC) for the important third place spot in the Northern Division. Only the top three teams in each division advance to the conference tournament in Daytona Beach next month.

The Hornets took game one, 9-5, before Jackson's homer gave them game two by a 5-4 score.

Four Hawks-junior Joey Nicastro (New Market, Maryland), senior Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia), junior Dominic DeBlasie (Tilton, New Hampshire) and freshman Avery Tunnell (Dover, Delaware)-earned multi-hit efforts in game one. Despite the loss in game two, Marshall was effective in relief for game two, pitching 3 2/3 innings before surrendering the home run.

Maryland Eastern Shore would take the lead first in both contests. Senior Tyler Friis (Appleton, Wisconsin) was the catalyst, getting hit by a pitch in game one and earning a leadoff walk in game two, scoring in each case.

In the first game, The Shore's lead held until the bottom of the third when the Hornets knocked in two runs. They would pound home nine runs in total over the next four innings to claim the opener.

Game two would be more competitive, even though Delaware State quickly overcame Friis' first run with a three spot in the bottom half. Tunnell singled home DeBlasie for a run in the second, and freshman Dillon Oxyer (Pasadena, Maryland) would score after leading off the third with a double.

Tunnell provided the equalizer after getting plunked in the fourth, then stealing second and third before scoring on a groundout. The contest remained deadlocked until Jackson sent the Hornets home happy with his first collegiate round tripper.

The Hawks look to regain the coveted third place position Sunday (Apr. 22) at the HBCU Classic. First pitch will occur after the Delmarva Shorebirds and Lakewood BlueClaws compete at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.