Box Score Baseball vs. Hunger Photos

NORFOLK, Va. – Andre' Moore and Kyle Vaas drove in runs in Norfolk State's two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning that sent the Spartans to a 4-3 win over The Apprentice School in the Spartans' regular-season finale Thursday night at Marty L. Miller Field.

In a back-and-forth affair, the Builders (26-12) took the lead, 3-2, on a two-out RBI single by Thomas Dudley in the top of the eighth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Dudley lined a single up the middle off NSU reliever Devin Hemmerich, scoring Mark Labrador. Lee Rossi attempted to score from second base on the play as well, but was thrown out at home by Moore, NSU's center fielder.

NSU (19-24) rallied in the bottom of the eighth off Apprentice reliever Colton Copeland. Justin Burrell led off with a single and Robert Reaume was hit by a pitch. Burrell stole third base on a heads-up play where Builders' catcher Javier Remigio threw behind Burrell at second. Burrell broke for third on Remigio's pickoff throw and beat the ensuing throw to third. Moore then chopped a ball to first base which he beat out for an infield RBI single, allowing Burrell to score the tying run.

Justin Lee followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Moore to second and Reaume to third. Vaas, who pinch hit for Chase Kyriacou, lifted the first pitch he saw from Apprentice reliever Sam Massie into right-center field for a sacrifice fly to score Reaume with the go-ahead run.

Hemmerich made the lead stand up, retiring Apprentice in order in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to close out NSU's fourth straight win.

Hemmerich (4-3) picked up the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Copeland (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs without recording an out.

Apprentice got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Brock Harris walked, moved to second on a groundout and to third on a passed ball. Harris scored on a two-out NSU error.

The Spartans tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI double off the bat of Ross Cardwell and took the lead on Cody Ellis' run-scoring groundout in the third.

The Builders knotted the score at 2-all on an RBI single by Trevin Wilson in the top of the sixth. It was one of four hits for Wilson.

Apprentice out-hit NSU 12-11. Aside from Wilson, Chris Aldridge, Labrador and Rossi had two hits each for The Apprentice School.

Cardwell, Burrell, Zach Markel and Cameron Day had two hits each for the Spartans.

NSU is off for the next five days in preparation for the MEAC Tournament, which runs Wednesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 18 at the Spartans' own Marty L. Miller Field. NSU plays the tournament's first game, at 9 a.m. Wednesday against a MEAC Southern Division opponent still to be determined after this weekend's makeup games involving teams from that division.