Box Score
Post-Game Photo Gallery
Post-Game NSU Notes
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State's Cinderella run in the MEAC Baseball Tournament came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the No. 5 Spartans fell to top-seeded Bethune-Cookman 13-2 in the championship round at Marty L. Miller Field.
The weary Spartans (25-24), playing their sixth game in four days after advancing through the loser's bracket, started strong by succumbed to the Wildcats (36-20), who won their third straight MEAC title and ninth in the last 10 years.
The teams were scoreless after two innings before Bethune-Cookman scratched across a run in the third off NSU starter Joey Seal (Newport News, Va.). Patrick Jones and Justin Hoyte singled, and a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases. Osvaldo Torres nearly hit into an inning-ending double play, but Torres narrowly beat out the throw at first to earn a fielder's choice RBI.
B-CU added another run in the fourth when Jones' infield single and an error allowed Jeremy Ruperto to score from second.
The Wildcats all but put the game away with a three-run fifth as Neal Jones, Jose Lozada and Emmanuel Castro tallied RBI singles. B-CU stretched the lead with two runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh off the NSU bullpen.
That was more than enough for Eric Thomas, who improved to 9-0 on the season. He pitched seven shutout innings, allowing six hits, and struck out 10 hitters. He did not walk anyone.
NSU scored its only runs in the top of the ninth. Pinch hitter Chris Williams (Suffolk, Va.) singled and scored on a two-out home run by Jerrod Farley (Chester, Va.), his second of the season.
Farley, Moriba George (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) and Brad Stephenson (Chesapeake, Va.) each went 2-for-4 for NSU. Those three, as well as third baseman Chris Joyce (Chesapeake, Va.), were named to the all-tournament team for the Spartans.
Seal (7-4) took the loss, allowing five hits and two runs, one earned, in four innings. He struck out three.
Despite the loss, the Spartans accomplished a number of feats in 2008. At 25-24, NSU achieved its first winning season since 2000 (23-22). NSU also tied last season's team for the Division I single-season win mark, of 25.
Lozada was named the tournament Most Outstanding Performer for the Wildcats, who advance to NCAA Regional play the weekend of May 30.
MEAC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team
Jeremy Jones, NCAT
Nick Rogers, NCAT
Marquise Frink, NCAT
Joe McIntyre, NCAT
Ken Richardson, UMES
Ryan Mailen, DSU
Darryl Evans, FAMU
Jose Lozada, BCU (Most Outstanding Performer)
Osvaldo Torres, BCU
Brad Stephenson, NSU
Chris Joyce, NSU
Jerrod Farley, NSU
Moriba George, NSU
