NORFOLK, Va. – Elijah Brown and Kyle Oliver each delivered three hits to lift Sacred Heart past Norfolk State 9-4 in the first game of a weekend round-robin invitational at Marty L. Miller Field Friday.

The Spartans (0-4) got off to a fast start, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Stephen Baughan and Justin Burrell each hit two-out run-scoring singles to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

But the advantage didn't last long, as Sacred Heart – playing its first game of the season – plated three runs on four hits in the top of the second. All three runs scored with two outs. Anthony Cappozziello hit an infield single to drive in the first run, then Brown hit a two-run single two batters later to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead.

SHU added one more in the fifth on Dan Schock's RBI double, and three more in the sixth. Jake Frasca hit an RBI double and P.J. DeFilippo a run-scoring single as the Pioneers stretched their lead to 7-2 in the top of the sixth.

The Spartans threatened to make it a game in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs thanks to a hit batter and two singles by Khie Simms and Aaron Robinson. A double play grounder scored one run and Alsander Womack's infield RBI single brought NSU within 7-4, but SHU reliever Joe Greco got out of the jam without any more damage.

The Pioneers added two insurance runs in the ninth to account for the final margin.

Brent Teller earned the win for Sacred Heart, allowing just three hits and two runs over seven innings. He struck out seven. NSU starter Chase Anderson (0-1) suffered his first loss for the Spartans, allowing seven runs in five-plus innings. He struck out five.

Seven different Spartans had one hit. Baughan, Womack and Burrell drove in runs, while Syeed Mahdi scored twice.

Shock and Brown had two RBI apiece for the Pioneers. Oliver scored three times.

The Spartans take on Iona at noon on Saturday. Sacred Heart faces Stony Brook afterward at 4 p.m.