Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Matt Outman struck out nine UMES hitters in six innings to lead Norfolk State to the win in Saturday's opener, but the host Hawks rode a one-hit shutout by Tanner Whiteman to salvage a split of the teams' MEAC baseball doubleheader at Hawk Stadium.
 
The Spartans (5-9, 2-3 MEAC) won game one, 10-4, but lost the nightcap, 3-0.
 
Game 1 began as a pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the division, Outman and UMES righty Jesse Stinnett. Outman allowed a two-out, RBI double by Greg Turlik in the top of the first, but that would be all the Hawks (6-14, 4-1) could muster against the junior left hander.
 
The Spartans didn't get their first hit until the fourth, when Roger Hall singled to put two runners on base, following Andre' Moore's walk. After a fielder's choice and a wild pitch, Ismael Herrera's two-run single gave NSU a 2-1 lead.
 
The Spartans then blew the game open with a six-run seventh inning against the Hawk bullpen. After three straight walks loaded the bases, pinch hitter Kyle Vaas hit a two-run single. A passed ball allowed Noah Johnson to score the third run of the frame. Denathan Dukes followed with a sacrifice fly, while Moore (RBI single) and Robbie Hiser (RBI double) added run-scoring hits to cap the rally.
 
UMES picked up three runs thanks to four hits and one NSU error in the eighth, but NSU added two more in the ninth on a UMES error and a Hall run-scoring single.
 
Herrera and Vaas each had two hits and two RBI in the opener, while Hall went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
 
Outman (2-1) allowed just three hits – one after the first inning – and struck out nine over six innings to record his second win of the season. Cooper Jones earned the save with three innings of relief to close out the victory.
 
Stinnett (1-4) took the loss despite allowing just three hits and two runs with six strikeouts in six innings.
 
In game two, Whiteman (2-3) allowed just a second-inning infield single by NSU right fielder Angel Rosario. He walked one and struck out five.
 
The Hawk offense was stymied through five innings by NSU sophomore lefty Devin Hemmerich, but finally strung together a three-run sixth inning. Mike Escanilla reached on a one-out single, and after a wild pitch, scored the game's first run on Joshua James' single. Justin Dattilo later singled, and with two outs, both he and James scored on a two-run double by Quenton Hamrick.
 
Hemmerich (0-2) took the loss, giving up five hits and three runs with six strikeouts in six innings.
 
The teams conclude their series with a noon game on Sunday.