Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. – Host Norfolk State posted seven-run innings in the second and sixth frames to make a winner out of starting pitcher Quinn Bright (Virginia Beach, Va.) and give the Spartans a 14-4 win over North Carolina Central on Monday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
The win gave NSU (6-4) a three-game sweep of the Eagles (1-7).
NCCU scored two unearned runs in the first. Oliver Jenkins and Kurt Wilson led off with back-to-back singles. Jenkins and David Scott, who reached on a fielder's choice, both came around to score on NSU errors.
But NSU roared back with a seven-run second inning. Freshman Juan Herrera (Santiago, Dominican Republic), making his season debut, and John Lynch (Newport News, Va.) hit RBI singles in the inning. Billy Canady (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Moriba George (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) coaxed bases-loaded walks off Eagles' pitcher Brandon Oatis, and Chase Bailey (Roanoke, Va.) added a sacrifice fly ball. That set the stage for the big hit in the frame, a two-out, two-run double off the bat of catcher Brad Stephenson (Chesapeake, Va.).
The Spartans made it 14-2 with another seven-run inning, this one coming in the sixth. Bailey roped a three-run triple down the right-field line to highlight the inning, which also included four walks from NCCU pitchers.
After a rocky first inning, Bright (1-1) earned his first win as a Spartan. He gave up just four hits and two runs, both unearned, in six innings. He struck out a season-high seven batters and did not walk anyone.
Bailey finished with a season-high four RBI and was 2-for-3. Canady was also 2-for-3 and Lynch went 2-for-4. Wilson and Scott had two hits apiece for NCCU.
Oatis (0-3) was the losing pitcher for NCCU, allowing eight hits and 10 runs, seven earned, in five innings. He walked four and struck out two.
The Spartans are back in action Wednesday at Old Dominion. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.