Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORFOLK, Va. – Zach Markel and Ross Cardwell powered host Norfolk State to a 14-4 win over Savannah State in the opener, then three Spartans combined on a one-hitter in the 2-0 nightcap on Saturday at Marty L. Miller Field.

Markel and Cardwell combined for six hits and six RBI in game 1, then Matt Outman, Josh Vales and Devin Hemmerich combined to hold the Tigers (3-7) to just a single hit in game 2 to propel the Spartans (3-6) to a doubleheader sweep of the defending MEAC champions.

With game 1 tied at 3-3 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans seized control with four runs in the fifth, then broke the game open with seven more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Markel and Cardwell both hit two-run doubles to account for the Spartans' four runs in the fifth.

The six-run seventh inning included a two-run Justin Burrell triple, a run-scoring single from Andre' Moore, and RBI doubles by Justin Lee and Markel.

Markel and Cardwell both went 3-for-5. Markel matched his Spartan career high with four RBI and Cardwell had a pair. Markel and Moore both scored three times, while Lee touched home twice. Moore added a pair of RBI and also stole two bases.

Justin Bhatti (1-2) earned his first win of the year, allowing three runs, none of them earned, in 5.1 innings pitched.

In the nightcap, Outman and SSU starter Austin Robinson both put up zeroes through four innings, but the Spartans recorded single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings and held off the Tigers.

NSU score the game's first run in the fifth. Burrell walked and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Burrell broke for third. The throw down to third base sailed into left field, allowing Burrell to come all the way home.

The Spartans added insurance in the sixth on Tyon Ore's two-out, RBI single.

NSU's bullpen did the rest. The Tigers got two runners on in both the sixth and seventh, but Vales got a key strikeout to end the sixth and Hemmerich coaxed a fielder's choice grounder to end the seventh and final inning.

Outman (1-0) picked up his first win as a Spartan, allowing just a second-inning double to Tre Sikes. Outman worked 5.1 innings, walked four and struck out five. Vales pitched 1.1 scoreless and Hemmerich got the final out for his first career save.

Ore was 2-for-3 in the nightcap and had an RBI in both games. Cardwell was 4-for-7 in the doubleheader.

The teams play another doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon.