Delaware State cut a seven run deficit to two before faltering in the late innings of a 11-5 loss to Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. on Wednesday. The Hornets dropped their second straight to fall to 11-22 on the season, while the Mountain Hawks improved to 18-22.

Lehigh pounded out 15 hits, including thee each by Andy Russell, Logan Marshall and Billy Swenson. Troy Drummond was two-for-five with three runs batted in to lead Delaware State’s 10-hit attack. Jarrett Bibb and Chris Kidd also had two hits for the Hornets. Lehigh opened the scoring when Russell blasted a three-run homer off Delaware State starter Jamie Friel in the bottom of the first inning.

The Mountain Hawks opened up a 4-0 lead when Joe Ercolano led off the third with homer to right center. Lehigh tacked on three more runs in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead. Swenson and Billy Goldman had run-scoring singles, and Ercolano drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the inning.

The Hornets got back into the game with a five-run fifth inning. Kevin Noriega, Kidd and Ryne Scheiwe led off the inning with consecutive singles, and Drummond cleared the bases with a triple to cut Lehigh’s lead to 7-3.

The Hornets pulled to within 7-4 when Drummond crossed the plate on a ground out by Jim Johnson. Jose Sanchez followed with a one out double and Justin Bittner singled to left to put runners at fist and third. Sanchez scored on a double by Bibb to trim Lehigh’s lead to 7-5.

The Hornets had runners on second and third with one out, but Lehigh reliever Billy Alec struck out Jose Portela and Noriega to end the threat. The Mountain Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead.

Lehigh added an insurance run in the seventh and two in the eighth to close out the scoring. Starter Andrew Grimm (3-1) earned the win for Lehigh, while Friel (2-4) was the losing pitcher.

The Hornets return to MEAC play with a weekend series against Norfolk State at Soldier Field. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday.