NORFOLK, Va. – Third baseman Mike Burke drove in four runs on three hits, including a solo home run, to lift Buffalo past Norfolk State 7-1 in the first day of the Spartan Baseball Classic at Marty L. Miller Field on Friday afternoon.

Buffalo got a strong pitching performance from starter Mike McGee and Cory Folk, who combined to limit NSU to one hit. McGee pitched five innings for the win, while Folk pitched the last four for the save.

Burke hit a three-run double in the third and hit one of two Buffalo (1-0) solo homers in the fifth. That made a winner out of McGee, who went five innings and allowed just one hit, shaking off some control issues.

Buffalo got on the board with two runs in the second. Tyler Mautner, Thomas Richards and Burke hit three consecutive singles off NSU starter Justin Bhatti (0-2) to start the inning, loading the bases. Mautner scored on Kyle Figgins' fielder's choice grounder, and Richards came home on a sacrifice fly by Brian Dudek.

Burke had the game's biggest hit though, lining a two-out double off the wall in right to score three runs and give UB a 5-0 lead.

The Spartans got a run back in the bottom of the third on a two-out single off the bat of Cameron Day, NSU's first and only hit of the game. That scored Andre' Moore, who walked earlier in the frame.

Buffalo extended its advantage to 7-1 in the top of the fifth. Matt Pollock lofted a deep shot into the wind and over the right-field wall to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Burke did the same.

Bhatti allowed eight hits and seven runs, all earned, in five innings of work. Newcomers Jonathan Mauricio and Stephen Butt combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief after Bhatti departed.

McGee (1-0) fanned seven and allowed just one hit in five innings to earn the win. He walked five batters, hit one and balked twice. Folk pitched four hitless innings, walked one and fanned four.

Burke was the only player for either team to record more than one hit.

There will be three games played tomorrow as part of second-day action at the Spartan Classic. Buffalo faces Villanova at 10 a.m., followed by Quinnipiac vs. Villanova at approximately 2 p.m. The nightcap, slated for a 6 p.m. start, will feature NSU against Quinnipiac.