NORFOLK, Va. – Killian Strenn had a pair of three-hit games, and freshman Robert Depp knocked in three runs in the nightcap to help Norfolk State earn a split of Sunday's doubleheader with Coppin State at Marty L. Miller Field. The Eagles took a 2-1 win in the opener before NSU rallied with eight unanswered runs to take the nightcap, 9-5.

The win gives NSU (15-21, 10-8 MEAC) its fifth straight series win.

After taking the first game 2-1, the Eagles led 5-1 in the nightcap after the top of the fourth. But NSU answered with two runs in the fourth, with Robert Reaume walking with the bases loaded and Depp knocking in another run with a sacrifice fly.

NSU took the lead with a four-run fifth. Strenn led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Cameron Day. Day later scored on a CSU error to tie the game. Later in the frame, Depp capped the rally with a two-run single to break the tie and give the Spartans a 7-5 lead.

NSU added insurance in the bottom of the sixth on a squeeze bunt by Andre Moore and an RBI single by Robert Barefoot.

Richie Salter, who entered the game in relief in the top of the fourth, closed out the Eagles and picked up his team-leading fifth win of the season. Salter pitched 3.1 innings and retired all 10 hitters he faced, striking out four.

Strenn was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, Montgomery went 2-for-3 and Depp was 1-for-3 with three RBI. Moore went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Darryl Martinez (1-4) took the loss for CSU, giving up three runs, two earned, in 1.1 innings of work.

In game 1, Shane Davies outdueled NSU starter Justin Bhatti and the Eagles got a clutch performance from reliever Michael Roberts to hold off the Spartans.

Coppin State got on the board first thanks to two Spartan errors in the top of the first. Chris Kashangaki led off with a single. Spartan pitcher Justin Bhatti's pickoff attempt at first base sailed wide into foul territory. Kashangaki rounded second and headed to third, and the throw from Spartan second baseman Strenn to third squired past third baseman Montgomery, allowing Kashangaki to score.

The Eagles added to their lead with a two-out rally in the second. Jay Maletz started it with a single, then Nathan Pitts hit a double to deep center to allow Maletz to score, making it 2-0.

The Spartans finally broke through against Davies in the bottom of the sixth. Justin Lee reached on an Eagle error, and Strenn followed with his second base hit of the game. One out later, Lee swiped third base, and Day followed with an RBI single to cut the Spartans' deficit in half. After Davies hit Depp to load the bases, he averted more danger by retiring Tyon Ore on a come-backer to end the inning.

NSU threatened again in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. Lee and Strenn led off with singles, and Davies hit Zach Markel to load the bases. But Roberts got Day to ground into a fielder's choice, erasing Lee by force-out at home. Roberts then fanned Depp and Ore to end the threat.

Roberts worked a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the year.

Davies (3-5) got the win, allowing just seven hits and one unearned run in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four. Bhatti (2-5) was the hard-luck losing pitcher. He pitched his first complete game of the season, yielding seven hits and two runs, one earned, with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Strenn was 3-for-4 with a double for NSU. Kashangaki had two hits for CSU.

The Spartans host Virginia State at 4 p.m. Tuesday and VMI at 5 p.m. Wednesday.