Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Tyon Ore went a combined 6-for-8 with four runs and four RBI, and the Norfolk State baseball team held on for a 7-5 win over UMES in the first game of a doubleheader before shutting down the Hawks in Game 2, 8-1, Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

Junior Richie Salter picked up the win in relief for the Spartans in the first game, giving up two earned runs in four innings and stranding the tying runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth. Sophomore Ryan VanAssche gave up just six hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts in a seven-inning shutout in the nightcap.

Ore and sophomore Cameron Day provided the offensive punch for NSU (4-12, 2-3), with Day going a combined 5-for-7 with four runs and three RBI in the two games. Freshman Justin Lee knocked in a pair of runs in each contest to help keep UMES winless on the season at 0-18, 0-2 in MEAC play.

After a tight first game, NSU breathed a little easier in the second thanks to a five-run fourth-inning. Junior center fielder James Taylor doubled toward the left field corner with one out, and seniors Chris Warren and Rafael Colon reached base on a walk and a hit to load them up. One out later, Day lined one back up the middle to plate the first two runs before Ore sent one toward short that took a high bounce on UMES shortstop Joshua James to bring home Colon.

Junior Shane Hoggard followed with a shot off third baseman James Newsome's glove to score Day, and then Ore touched the plate when Newsome's throw to first on a bunt attempt by freshman Mikey Bruno was dropped by first baseman Jeffery Fleetwood. That made it 8-1, and UMES hardly threatened after that.

NSU took the early lead in Game 2 with two runs in the second, again sparked by Day and Ore. The duo opened the frame with a pair of hits, and two outs later with both runners in scoring position, Lee lined one through the grass into left field for a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks scored their only run of the game off an RBI single from right fielder Bryon Campbell in the third. The Spartans countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1 when Day blooped one between first and second that neither Fleetwood nor Bagwell could get a fix on to score Colon.

Jacob Foreman (0-4) suffered the loss in the second game, allowing eight runs, six earned, on 12 hits in all six innings. VanAssche earned his first win of the year.

The Hawks made the first game of the day interesting after scoring first with three runs in the second. Tre-von Johnson singled and Franklin Armstrong walked to start the frame. Catcher Brandon Schott doubled toward the left-center gap to score Johnson, and Joshua James' single into center brought home the next two runs.

The Spartans chipped away at the lead with two in the second, as a fielder's choice off the bat of Ore scored Hoggard. Ore then cross the plate following a Hawk error to cut the UMES lead to one, 3-2. Then in the fourth, NSU took the lead with two more runs, as junior Ryan Montgomery singled to center to start things off and went to third when James bobbled a hit by Day. Ore's single into right allowed Montgomery to cross the plate, and then an RBI groundout by Lee plated Day for a 4-3 NSU lead.

After Shaquille Bagwell's RBI single in the sixth tied it up at 4-4, the Spartans took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Day tripled toward the left field corner with one out, and Ore's single in the next at bat made it 5-4. After Ore stole second and went to third on the errant throw by Schott, Lee singled to center for the second run of the frame. Two batters later, Warren lofted a sac fly to left for a 7-4 lead.

The Hawks did not go down without a fight, though, as Bagwell's sac fly to left scored Schott, who had double with one out in the top of the eighth. UMES made it interesting in the ninth as well. Stephen Bull singled into center to start a potential rally but was out at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Campbell.

With two down, Fleetwood hit a slow roller toward Colon at second that went just underneath the glove of Salter, who tried to field it coming off the mound. With Fleetwood already guaranteed the hit, Colon threw an ill-advised throw past first that allowed Fleetwood to go to second and Campbell to third. Salter, though, got Johnson to hit an easy chopper back to the mound for the final out of the game.

Salter improved his record to 2-0 on the year, while UMES starter Tyler Witte fell to 0-4 after giving up all seven runs, four earned, on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. Junior Jordan Egan got the start for NSU and allowed three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in five innings.

Schott went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the first game, while James added a pair of hits and two RBI. The Hawks tallied 13 hits in the game but left nine runners on base and hit into two double plays.

NSU and UMES will finish out the series Sunday at noon at Marty L. Miller Field.