NORFOLK, Va. – Dionte Brown hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs over the course of Saturday's doubleheader with Delaware State, helping the Spartans earn a split of the two games. NSU won the opener 4-3 but dropped the nightcap, 9-7, at Marty L. Miller Field.

Brown was 3-for-7 and freshman Kam Walker was 4-for-4 with three runs over the two games for NSU (8-16, 5-6 MEAC).

Brown drove in three of the Spartans' four runs in the opener. He hit a two-run single in the first, and with the score tied at 3-all, hit the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

The Hornets got a pair of runners on in the seventh, but Spartan reliever Jackson Sanchez recorded three strikeouts in the frame to seal the NSU victory.

Raphy Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, including a run-scoring two-bagger in the third.

Sanchez picked up the win by pitching the final 2.1 innings. He did not allow a run and struck out three.

The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in game 2 in the bottom of the third. Tommy Woods and Kam Walker both reached on infield singles in the frame. Woods scored on Brandon Cleveland's RBI fielder's choice and Walker crossed the plate on a Hornet passed ball.

The Hornets took control with six runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. All six runs in the fourth came after Zac Capps struck out the first two Hornets who batted in the frame. Miguel Rivera had the big hit in the inning, a two-run single, and two more runs scored on bases-loaded walks.

Alec Rodriguez hit an RBI single in the fifth and Mason Brewer's sacrifice fly made it 8-2.

But the Spartans weren't done. Robert Beatty walked to start the fifth and singles by Walker and Cleveland loaded the bases. Jacob Council coaxed a bases-loaded walk before Brown smashed a two-out grand slam to left, bring NSU within a single run.

But the Hornets added an insurance run in the seventh, and reliever Ethan Edelson held NSU scoreless over the final two innings to help the Hornets earn the split.

Walker had a career-high three hits, including a double, and scored twice in game 2.

The teams conclude their series with a noon game on Sunday.