DURHAM, N.C. – Drew Van Orden pitched six strong innings and host Duke pulled away late for an 11-1 win over Norfolk State on Wednesday evening at Jack Coombs Field.

Van Orden allowed just three hits and one run in six innings, while the Blue Devils (5-3) offense outhit NSU (1-6) by a 12-3 margin.

After two scoreless innings, the Blue Devils scored twice with two outs in the third off NSU left hander Devin Hemmerich, making his first career start. Kenny Koplove singled to lead off the inning and reached third on a throwing error by Hemmerich. NSU appeared to skirt trouble when the next batter, Mark Lumpa, flied out and Koplove was thrown out at home by Spartan left fielder Tyon Ore. But Mike Rosenfeld drew a walk and Grant McCabe singled. Both scored on Ryan Deitrich's two-run double.

The Spartans cut their deficit in half in the top of the fifth inning. Ross Cardwell and Ore hit consecutive singles to lead off the inning, and Cardwell came home on Justin Burrell's two-out single.

But Duke scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth to stretch its lead to 4-1. Lumpa led off with a triple off NSU reliever Cooper Jones. Lumpa scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Chris Marconcini walked and scored on a two-out Spartan outfield error.

Rosenfeld tacked on a two-run triple for Duke in the sixth. The Blue Devils added five more in the seventh, thanks in part to a two-run single by McCabe and two NSU errors.

Hemmerich (0-1) took the loss, allowing five hits and two runs in four innings. He walked one and struck out two. Those were the first earned runs allowed this year for Hemmerich, who was making his fifth appearance.

McCabe and Koplove had two hits each for Duke. All three NSU hits came in the fifth inning.

The Spartans are back home for a four-game series this Saturday and Sunday against defending MEAC champion Savannah State. The teams play a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday, and another double-dip on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.