Box Score PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Chase Kyriacou and Zach Markel combined for nine hits and four runs batted in to help Norfolk State to an 8-2 win at Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday in the rubber game of the series at Hawks Stadium.

The Spartans (7-15, 2-4 MEAC North) posted a season-high 18 hits against Hawks (5-19, 2-4), who managed just five off NSU pitching. Kyriacou finished 5-for-6, falling one hit shy of tying the single-game school record set by Brandon Hairston at Coppin State in 2011. He and Markel (4-for-6) both set career highs in hits and both knocked in a pair of runs.

NSU starter Justin Bhatti (2-4) was the beneficiary of the Spartan bats, earning his second win of the season after yielding just two hits while striking out a season-high seven in 6.1 innings to earn the win.

Kyriacou singled in his first at-bat in the top of the first, and after a UMES error, scored the game's first run on a Cameron Day single. Kyriacou stretched NSU's lead to 2-0 in the top of the second when he singled in freshman Robert Barefoot, who reached on an error to start the frame.

In the fourth, center fielder Mikey Bruno led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Bruno then stole third base and scored when the throw to third got by the UMES third baseman for an error.

The Spartans kept adding to their lead in the fifth. Third baseman Kyle Vaas singled and later scored on a single by classmate Robert Reaume to push NSU's lead to 4-0.

The Spartans opened things up in the seventh. Bruno again singled and stole his second base of the day. Two batters later, Kyriacou singled him in. Markel would then knock in Kyriacou with a single to make it 6-0.

The Hawks finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Bhatti struck out Connor Breslin to start the inning, but then walked Joshua James and Thomas Gray, the sixth and seventh free passes issued by Bhatti on the day. Bhatti was lifted for reliever Cooper Jones, who was greeted by a two-run double by Stephen Bull. But Jones escaped further damage, and teamed with Troy Applin to hold UMES scoreless the rest of the way.

Markel added an RBI single and Vaas hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to account for the game's final runs.

Bhatti was charged with the two runs that scored in the seventh, but those were the only blemishes on his record. He allowed just two hits, tied for the fewest he's allowed in a start this season. Jones pitched 1.2 scoreless and Applin worked a scoreless ninth.

Every NSU starter had at least one hit, led by Kyriacou and Markel. Bruno was 2-for-5 with two steals and two runs scored, while lead-off man Justin Lee was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kyriacou scored three runs, while Day was 1-for-3 and drew three walks.

Bull was 2-for-5 with two RBI for the Hawks, but his teammates accounted for just three other hits.

Jordan Bone (0-1) took the loss for UMES, allowing four runs (one earned) and 10 hits in 4.2 innings.

NSU returns home for a 6 p.m. contest with William & Mary on Wednesday at Marty L. Miller Field.