Newark, DE - Steven Foster was 4-4 with two doubles and two runs scored and David Leiderman had three hits and four RBIs but it wasn't enough as Delaware took a 17-7 win Saturday at Bob Hannah Field. The victory clinched the Colonial Athletic Association series for the Blue Hens ahead of Sunday's finale.

Delaware improved to 19-14 overall and 6-5 in league action. Hofstra dropped to 8-24 and 2-6 in the CAA.

Hofstra jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as Leiderman homered for the second consecutive game, a three-run shot that drove in Vito Friscia and Brad Witkowski. Hofstra would lead, 5-1, in the third as Witkowski and Leiderman had RBI singles.

But Delaware scored six runs in the bottom of the third to take a 7-5 lead. Brian Mayer delivered the big blow in the inning, a three-run home run that gave the Blue Hens the lead. The home team would have another six-run inning in the fourth and then added four more tallies in the seventh. Mayer would homer again in the fourth, a two-run shot , and then added an RBI double in the seventh. Calvin Scott added a three-run double in the seventh as well.

???????Friscia had an RBI single in the fifth and Parker Quinn drove in the final Hofstra run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

James Meeker (4-1) picked up the win in relief for Delaware, allowing two runs on four hits in four innings of work.

Starter Jorge Marrero (1-5) took the loss for Hofstra after allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in three innings. Michael James was able to keep the Blue Hens off the scoreboard over the final 1 2/3 innings.

In addition to Foster and Leiderman, Witkowski and Friscia each had multi-hit games with two each.

Mayer finished with three hits and six RBIs for Delaware. Scott also had three hits, drove in four and scored four runs. Nick Patten had three hits including a triple.

The teams conclude the series with an Easter Sunday matchup at 1 p.m.

NOTES:
-The four-hit game was Steven Foster's second this week as he had four versus Fairfield.
-Vito Friscia extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 16 games.
-Delaware had the leadoff man on base in seven of eight innings compared to five of nine for the Pride.