NORFOLK, Va. – Pinch hitter Robert Barefoot's two-run single capped a three-run bottom of the seventh inning and help host Norfolk State rally for a 4-2 win over Old Dominion on Saturday at Marty L. Miller Field.

The win helped the Spartans (18-27) earn a split of the two-game series with their cross-town foe ODU (27-23).

Both starting pitchers, ODU lefty Ryan Yarbrough and NSU righty Justin Bhatti, turned in solid starts. Bhatti left after five scoreless innings after allowing just two hits and striking out eight, one shy of his season high. Yarbrough was also impressive, matching Bhatti zero for zero through five frames.

ODU broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the sixth. Josh Eldridge led off with a single off Spartan reliever Ryan Shook. Eldridge stole second, advanced to third on an NSU error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Josiah Burney. Later in the frame, Tyler Urps drew a bases-loaded walk from the second Spartan pitcher of the inning, Cooper Jones, to push its lead to 2-0.

But the Spartans rallied in the seventh. Killian Strenn led off with a single off Yarbrough, and Cameron Day followed with another single into right-center. The ball rolled past ODU right fielder Ben Verlander, allowing Strenn to score. Day was thrown out trying to take third, but that only momentarily slowed NSU. Zach Markel walked and Cody Ellis singled to chase Yarbrough from the game. ODU reliever Brad Gero recorded one out, but Ryan Montgomery reached on an error to load the bases. Barefoot then lined a single through the infield, scoring Markel and Ellis with the go-ahead runs.

NSU added insurance in the bottom of the eighth on Markel's two-out RBI single, making it 4-2.

The Spartan bullpen made the lead stand up, as three NSU relievers pitched the final 3.1 innings without yielding a hit or run. Jones (2-4) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Troy Applin tossed two-thirds of an inning, then Ray Morton recorded the final four outs for his fifth save of the season.

Strenn, Day and Ellis had two hits apiece for NSU, which outhit the Monarchs 9-4.

Yarbrough took the loss, dropping to 4-4 after allowing five hive and three runs, one earned, in 6.1 innings.

The Spartans open play in the MEAC Tournament at 9 a.m. Wednesday against North Carolina Central. All games will be played at NSU's Marty L. Miller Field.