Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. – TiQuan Griffin hit a game-tying RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning and James Taylor followed with the eventual game-winning RBI single as Norfolk State rallied for a 6-5 victory over Delaware State on Friday evening at Marty L. Miller Field.
The Hornets (18-19, 6-3 MEAC) took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, their first lead of the game, only to see NSU (15-21, 7-5) rally in the bottom of the inning. NSU scored all six of its runs Friday with two outs, including the winning rally in the eighth. Chris Warren hit a one-out double off DSU reliever Derek Marshallsea and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sammy Serafine. Griffin followed with a sinking liner to right field, which Hornet right fielder Tony Gatto dove for and missed. The ball bounced past Gatto, allowing Griffin to leg out a triple as Warren scored easily from third to tie things at 5-all.
Taylor then followed with a line drive into center field to score Griffin and give the Spartans the lead.
Richie Salter (2-1), who allowed the Hornets' two runs in the eighth, came back strong with a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.
NSU started fast with three runs of DSU starter Jordan Elliott in the bottom of the first. Ryan Montgomery laced a two-out, two-run triple to left-center field to get the Spartans on the board, and Blaze Zeilman followed with a run-scoring single that plated Montgomery.
The Hornets got two runs back in the second off NSU starter Ryan Shook. Shook walked three batters in the inning, and DSU got an RBI groundout from D.J. Miller and an RBI bunt single by Keith Hernandez to get within 3-2.
NSU made it 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Griffin singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Taylor's first RBI single of the day.
DSU got within 4-3 in the seventh on Cameron Cecil's sacrifice fly, then took the lead in the eighth. Salter walked Troy Drummond, hit Hernandez with a pitch and gave up an infield hit to Davis. Ryan Haas followed with a two-run single to put the Hornets ahead 5-4.
But the Spartans answered off Marshallsea (1-4), who entered in the eighth and allowed three hits and a pair of runs to take the loss.
Salter earned the win with two innings of worked. He allowed two hits and two runs, walked one and struck out two.
Griffin was 3-for-3 with a single, double, triple and two runs scored to lead the Spartans. Taylor was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Montgomery also had two RBI.
Davis and Haas each had three hits for the Hornets.
The teams play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.
