Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – A five-run fourth-inning was all the offense the Norfolk State baseball team needed as the Spartans won an error-filled game, 5-2, over UMES to sweep the weekend series from the Hawks. All five runs scored for NSU on a pair of errors during one play and two wild pitches on a cool, sunny Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

Sophomore Justin Bhatti (2-2) was the recipient of the wild fourth inning, picking up the win after allowing just two unearned runs with five strikeouts in seven innings. Chris Horne pitched two shutout innings in relief for the save as NSU improved to 5-12 overall, 3-3 in conference play.

Sophomore designated hitter Cameron Day got it going in the fourth as he fought off a pitch on the inside part of the plate and dropped it to the right of the center fielder. Sophomore left fielder Tyon Ore followed with a bloop hit to the area between the second baseman, center fielder and right fielder, sending Day to third.

Junior third baseman Ryan Montgomery got plunked by the pitch on the back of the shoulder to load the bases, and a wild pitch scored the first run of the inning for NSU. UMES starter Jesus Hernandez then issued a walk to freshman right fielder James Essex to reload the bases.

All three runners came home when Hawk shortstop Joshua James let junior Ross Cardwell's hit go right through his legs and left fielder Stephen Bull had trouble fielding the ball in left-center as well. That second error allowed Essex to score all the way from first for a 4-0 lead.

A groundout moved Cardwell to third, and another wild pitch scored the fifth and final run of the inning.

Hernandez (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up all five runs, four earned, on three hits with four walks in 3.1 innings.

UMES got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second. An error on the Spartans sparked the two-run rally for the Hawks after center fielder Tre-von Johnson reached first on the error on NSU shortstop Justin Lee. First baseman Franklin Armstrong doubled just inside the left field line to bring Johnson home all the way around from first for the first run of the game.

A pair of outs got Armstrong to third, and then he crossed the plate when second baseman Shaquille Bagwell lofted a single into left field for the 2-0 lead for the Hawks.

UMES made it interesting in both the seventh and ninth innings, though. James singled with one out in the seventh, and Bagwell and Bull reached on an error and a walk to load the bases. Right fielder Bryon Campbell lofted one to Essex in right for the second out, and James took off for home after the catch but was gunned down by Essex at home with plenty of time to spare.

A walk to James and a single into left field off the bat of Bull put runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Horne struck out Campbell to end the threat and send NSU to its fourth straight win.

Zachary Saca shut down the Spartans in relief, allowing just one hit in 4.2 innings of work. The Hawks remained winless on the season at 0-19 overall, 0-3 in MEAC play.

NSU will host William & Mary Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Marty L. Miller Field.