GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Norfolk State baseball team opened its 2014 season with a pair of losses on Saturday at the Furman First Pitch Invitational. The Spartans opened the day with a 5-2 loss to host Furman, the dropped a tough 6-5, 13-inning affair to Xavier, both at Latham Stadium.

Against Furman, the host Paladins used a four-run second inning to seize control, and its bullpen kept the Spartans at bay. Furman took a 1-0 lead on Alex Abrams' two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the first off NSU starter Justin Bhatti (0-1). The Spartans promptly tied the game in the top of the second with a two-out solo home run by left fielder Tyon Ore.

But the Paladins got to Bhatti for four runs in the bottom of the second to take charge. Hunter Burton and Jake Jones hit back-to-back RBI singles to account for the first two runs in the frame. Burton then scored on a sacrifice fly by Greg Harrison, and Jones crossed the plate after an NSU error to give the Paladins a 5-1 lead.

NSU's only other run came in the fourth. Ore reached on an error to start the inning, and later scored on an RBI groundout by Mikey Bruno. Furman relievers Matthew Quarles, Ryan Morse and Brant Masters combined to keep NSU off the board over the final five frames.

Elliott Warford (1-0) was credited with the win for Furman, pitching four innings and allowed two runs, one earned. Masters earned the save with a 1-2-3 ninth in which he struck out the side. Furman's four pitchers combined to strike out 14 Spartan batters.

Bhatti took the loss for NSU, allowing five runs (four earned) with four walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work. Freshman Devin Hemmerich pitched three scoreless innings in relief for NSU.

Abrams was 2-for-3 for Furman, which had seven hits. Six different Spartans accounted for NSU's six hits.

In the nightcap with Xavier, the Spartans found themselves down early, only to rally and force extra innings before the Musketeers prevailed in the 13th.

Xavier scored three times in the second off Spartan starter Matt Outman (0-1). Mitch Elliott knocked in a run with a fielder's choice, and later scored on one of two Outman wild pitches in the inning. Andre Jernigan's two-out RBI single made it 3-0.

The Spartans cut into their deficit on Andre' Moore's two-run single in the fourth, only to see Xavier answer in kind with Stephen Schoettmer two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.

But NSU rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh to tie. Justin Lee led off with a single and scored on an RBI base hit off the bat of Zach Markel. Two batters later, Kyle Vaas' RBI single cut NSU's deficit to one. Catcher Omar Hotusing tied the game with a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Noah Johnson.

The two bullpens then went to work, matching each other with one scoreless inning after another from the eighth through 12th innings. Xavier, though, finally broke the deadlock in the 13th. Jernigan led off with a single, and Tres Eberhardt reached on a bunt single to put two runners on. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, NSU reliever Josh Vales walked Brian Bruening intentionally to load the bases and set up a double-play possibility. But Vinny Nittoli drew a walk from Vales, forcing into Jernigan with the winning run.

Greg Jacknewitz earned the win for Xavier, pitching a scoreless top of the 13th with two strikeouts. Vales took the loss. The three Spartan relievers who entered prior to Vales, Cooper Jones, Jeff Di Fulgo and Troy Applin, combined to pitch eight scoreless innings.

Hotusing was 2-for-5 while Lee, Vaas and Moore were all 2-for-6 for the Spartans. Schoettmer went 3-for-5 for Xavier, and four other Musketeers had two hits apiece.

The Spartans conclude their weekend in Greenville with an 11:30 a.m. game Sunday against Toledo. The game is scheduled to be played at Fluor Field, home of the Single-A Greenville Drive minor league baseball club.