Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Norfolk State junior catcher Brad Stephenson (Chesapeake, Va.) made his first collegiate home run a memorable one, blasting a fifth-inning grand slam to help the Spartans win just their second road game of the season, 9-5, over Gardner-Webb on Saturday night at Varsity Field.

Stephenson slam was NSU's first of the season and was the first of back-to-back homers in the top of the fifth. Senior designated hitter John Boyd III (Hempstead, N.Y.) followed with a solo shot for a 5-1 NSU lead, his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the year, as the Spartans (21-20) had just their second multi-home run game of the season.

Senior right hander Joey Seal (Newport News, Va.) worked the final 4.1 innings in relief to run his record to 7-3 on the year. He allowed three hits and one run while striking out six in winning his third straight decision.

Seal came on in the fifth after the Bulldogs (23-26) got NSU starter Quinn Bright (Virginia Beach, Va.) into trouble. GWU scored three times in the fifth, the last of which came home with Seal walked Bubbie Spake with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 5-4. But Seal struck out Jeremiah Lokken swinging to end the threat.

Both teams scored a run in the seventh, but the Spartans got some insurance with a three-run ninth inning. Boyd hit an RBI single and Chris Joyce (Chesapeake, Va.) a two-out, two-run double to give NSU a 9-5 cushion.

Stephenson finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Boyd was 2-for-4 with three RBI while John Lynch (Newport News, Va.) and TiQuan Griffin (Florence, S.C.) added two hits apiece. Griffin also swiped two bases.

The teams are slated to play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, NSU's final regular-season games of the year before next week's MEAC Tournament in Norfolk.