Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. – Freshman Devin Hemmerich pitched 7.1 strong innings to send the Norfolk State baseball team to a 7-5 win over Coppin State in game 1 of the teams' doubleheader on Saturday at Joe Cannon Stadium, clinching the Spartans' series win over CSU.

The Eagles (9-25, 7-11 MEAC North) shut out NSU (15-21, 11-7) in the nightcap to salvage one game of the squads' four-game, two-day series. NSU had swept the first doubleheader on Friday and won five of six from Eagles during the regular season.

Hemmerich, NSU's normal closer, was making his first start since March 10. He responded by tossing a season-high 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits and one run. He walked none and struck out four to run his record to 3-2 on the year.

NSU never trailed in game 1. Justin Burrell scored the Spartans' first run in the second inning. He led off with a double off CSU starter Jhar Devilme and scored on James Essex's fielder's choice.

CSU tied it at 1-all in the bottom of the sixth on Jeffrey Fitch's RBI single, but NSU quickly reclaimed the lead on an RBI double off the bat of Andre' Moore in the top of the seventh.

Hemmerich came out of the game with runners on second and third and one down in the bottom of the eighth. NSU went to the bullpen and reliever Josh Vales got a come-backer for the second out and a groundout to shortstop to keep the Eagles off the board.

The Spartans extended their lead to 7-1 by plating five runs in the top of the ninth. NSU had six hits in the inning, including RBI singles by Cameron Day, Omar Hotusing and Burrell and a run-scoring double by Chase Kyriacou. Killian Strenn, who also had a hit in the inning, scored the inning's fifth run on an Eagle error.
It turned out that NSU would need those insurance runs, as the Eagles mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth. CSU quickly loaded the bases off Vales with two singles and a walk. Chris Godfrey hit a two-run single and William Brown also tacked on an RBI single of his own to make it 7-4.

Jeff Di Fulgo came on in relief of Vales with the bases loaded and one out. NSU turned a bizarre, unconventional double play to end the game. John Walls hit a grounder to third and Burrell stepped on the bag for a force out. But Burrell's throw to first to attempt to complete a double play was wild, allowing Godfrey to score from third. Pinch runner Jonathan Calvin, who was on first when the play began, tried to score after Burrell's errant throw, but Day – the right fielder – chased the ball down and threw out Calvin at home to end the game.

NSU out-hit CSU 16-8 in the opener. The Spartans fourth through seventh hitters in the lineup – Day, Kyriacou, Burrell and Strenn – combined to go 11-for-18. Strenn was 3-for-3, Burrell and Kyriacou were 3-for-5 and Day was 2-for-5.

Godfrey was 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Eagles.

Game 2 was a brisk 94-minute, seven-inning contest that included just six total hits. CSU's Will Grebenstein pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out six.

The Eagles scored all their runs in the third and all three were unearned. Miranda Bryant had an RBI double in the frame, which also included an error by NSU.
Day and Justin Lee had the two hits for NSU in the nightcap. Justin Bhatti (2-5) took the loss, despite allowing just three unearned runs in 3.1 innings of work.

The Spartans are off before their next MEAC series next Saturday and Sunday at Delaware State. The Hornets swept a doubleheader from UMES on Saturday, moving DSU (10-6) just percentage points ahead of NSU for the MEAC North division-lead.