Box Score BLACKSBURG, Va. – Norfolk State scored four runs in the top of the sixth to tie host Virginia Tech, but the host Hokies pulled away with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the sixth en route to a 12-5 victory over the Spartans on Tuesday night at English Field.
 
The seven-run sixth by the Hokies (13-12) spoiled an otherwise solid showing from the Spartans (6-10), including a career day by freshman second baseman Syeed Mahdi. Mahdi went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the loss.
 
The Hokies struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first off NSU freshman starter Michael Parmentier. Alex Perez hit an RBI single and Brendon Hayden a sacrifice fly to get the Hokies on the board.
 
But Parmentier settled in, and did not allow a run over his final three innings of work. NSU got a run back in the top of the fifth off Hokie starter Connor Coward. Ryan Kilmon walked to lead off the inning and Mahdi reached on an error. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, Denathan Dukes' RBI groundout cut NSU's deficit to 2-1.
 
The Spartans appeared to be in trouble when the Hokies scored three in the bottom of the fifth, thanks in part to run-scoring singles by Hayden and Erik Payne. But NSU erupted for four runs in the top of the sixth to tie the score. A Kyle Vaas single and walks to Angel Rosario and Robbie Hiser loaded the bases with one out. Kilmon's RBI single scored Vaas. Mahdi followed with the big blow in the inning, a two-run double to bring the Spartans within 5-4. Catcher Omar Hotusing capped the rally with an RBI groundout to tie things up.
 
But the Hokies proved to be too much for the NSU bullpen in the seventh, taking advantage of five hits, two walks and one hit batter to score seven times. Hayden and Sean Keselica both hit two-run singles in the inning, which saw 12 men come to the plate. Keselica had two hits in the inning, adding a double to go with his two-run single. Payne chipped in with an RBI double in the inning.
 
Sean Kennedy (1-2) picked up the win for the Hokies. He allowed just one hit and walked one batter in 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. Kennedy fanned six batters.
 
Cooper Jones (0-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed all seven sixth-inning Hokie runs in two-thirds of an inning of work. Parmentier had his strongest start of the year, yielding two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work. Jonathan Mauricio (1.1 innings) and Matt Boone (one inning) fanned two Virginia Tech batters each in relief duty.
Mahdi had a career-best three hits to lead NSU. Kilmon went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Dukes and Hotusing also drove in runs.
 
Perez, Hayden, Payne and Keselica had two hits apiece for the Hokies. Hayden knocked in four runs and Payne and Keselica each drove in two.
 
The Spartans host Coppin State this Saturday and Sunday for the first MEAC Northern Division series at Marty L. Miller Field this season. The teams play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, and a single game at noon on Sunday.