TOWSON, Md. - Sophomore catcher Andrew Parker banged out four hits and drove in five runs to lead the Tigers (18-20-1) to a second straight offensive explosion as the Tigers handed Delaware State (21-20) a 21-9 non-conference loss at John B. Schuerholz Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The Tigers, who handed Maryland Eastern Shore a one-sided 26-7 defeat on Tuesday, scored 20-plus runs for the second game in a row.

After scoring 26 runs on 22 hits against UMES, the Tigers tallied 21 runs on 15 hits in the win over Delaware State. The Tigers also took advantage of 14 walks issued by Delaware State pitchers.

Wednesday's game was the third meeting of the season between Towson and Delaware State. The two teams split the first two games.

Parker, who enjoyed the first four-hit game of his career, established a career high five runs batted in. He also scored two runs. Parker hit two home runs and a double.

The Hornets grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Senior shortstop Keith Hernandez led off the game by drawing a walk from senior righthander Tyler Bugna. A sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Scott Davis advanced Hernandez into scoring position. With two outs, freshman rightfielder Cameron Cecil doubled to centerfield as Hernandez scored the first run of the game. Bugna escaped the inning by getting freshman designated hitter Aaron Nardone to ground out to second base.

After the Tigers were retired in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Hornets tried to add to their lead in the second inning. With one out, junior third baseman Brandon Crist singled. After sophomore catcher Peter Broehl was retired on a fly ball to rightfield, senior centerfielder Troy Drummond tripled to right centerfield as Crist scored to make it a 2-0 lead. Bugna stranded Drummond at third base when he struck out Hernandez to end the inning.

The Tigers, who had a 13-run inning and a seven-run inning in their win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday, rallied for seven runs in the second inning to take a 7-2 lead over the Hornets.

Parker led off the inning by blasting his fourth home run of the season over the leftfield fence. When senior rightfielder Steve Rice drew a walk, the Tigers had the tying run on base. A single by senior third baseman Chris Wychock gave the Tigers two runners on base with no outs.

When junior centerfielder Ben Winter put down a perfect sacrifice bunt, Rice and Wychock moved into scoring position. Freshman first baseman Hunter Bennett tied the game when he hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, driving home Rice.

Freshman leftfielder Dominic Fratantuono reached base when he was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and third base. Senior shortstop Nick Natoli put the Tigers ahead by 3-2 when he singled through the left side.

A walk to freshman second baseman Pat Fitzgerald loaded the bases for senior designated hitter Austin Harclerode. On a 2-0 pitch, Harclerode drilled a triple to the deepest part of Schuerholz Park. His triple to right centerfield cleared the bases and gave the Tigers a 6-2 advantage. Moments later, Parker doubled to left field for his second hit of the inning. His double scored Harclerode to give Towson a 7-2 advantage.

Back-to-back walks to Rice and Wychock loaded the bases before Winter grounded out, ending the inning.

Pitching with a 7-2 lead, Bugna ran into immediate trouble in the third inning. Davis led off with a double down the leftfield line and he advanced to third base on a single by sophomore first baseman Ryan Haas.

At that point, freshman righthander Brandon Gonnella (below) was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Bugna. Gonnella retired the next three hitters he faced although Davis scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Aaron Nardone to make it a 7-3 lead.

The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Parker blasted a solo homer to rightfield, his fifth home run of the season and his third round-tripper in two games.

Gonnella, who was the winning pitcher in the game, threw three shutout innings against the Hornets. He allowed only one hit and struck out four.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Hornets rallied to get back into the game. Facing sophomore righthander Mike Volpe, Delaware State staged a one-out rally. Sophomore catcher Peter Broehl started the rally when he was hit by a pitch. A single by senior centerfielder Troy Hammond and a walk to Hernandez loaded the bases.

Freshman righthander Troy Bennett relieved Volpe. Davis followed with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 8-5. But, Rice threw out Hernandez trying to advance to third base for the second out. It turned out to be a huge play moments later when Haas smashed a long home run to right centerfield, cutting the Tigers' lead to 8-7. Freshman rightfielder Cameron Cecil struck out to end the inning.

With their lead trimmed to 8-7, the Tigers went back to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fitzgerald led off the inning with a walk. Back-to-back walks to Harclerode and Parker loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Rice drove in Fitzgerald to give Towson a 9-7 lead. After Harclerode stole third base, he scored when Wychock grounded into a force play, giving the Tigers a 10-7 advantage. A single by Winter gave the Tigers two runners on base before Hunter Bennett's infield single loaded the bases.

When Fratantuono drilled a single to centerfield, two more runs scored and the Tigers owned a 12-7 lead. Natoli grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers added two more runs. Fitzgerald and Harclerode started the inning with back-to-back singles before Parker's two-run single gave Towson a 14-7 advantage.

The Tigers put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth inning as they scored seven runs on just one hit. In the eighth inning, the Tigers took advantage of five walks, two errors and a wild pitch as they padded their lead to 21-7.

Delaware State added two runs in the ninth inning on an error and an infield single by freshman D.J. Miller.

Each team had 15 hits in the game. However, Tiger pitchers only issued six walks while the eight pitchers used by Delaware State walked 14.

Davis, the Hornets' leading hitter, was three-for-three with two RBI's to lead Delaware State. Hernandez and Haas also had two hits each.

The Tigers, who have won 12 of their last 16 games, were led by Parker, who had four hits and five RBI's.

Harclerode added three hits and drove in three runs. He also scored four runs. Fitzgerald had only one hit but he scored four runs. Fratantuono added two hits and drove in two runs.

In the last two games, the Tigers have raised their team batting average 14 points. They entered yesterday's game with a .252 team batting mark and are now hitting .266.

The Tigers return to Colonial Athletic Association action this weekend when they travel to George Mason University for a three-game series against the Patriots.