NORFOLK, Va. – Morehead State limited Norfolk State to seven combined hits en route to a 5-3, 5-1 doubleheader sweep of the teams' first doubleheader of the weekend on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

In game one, the Spartans (3-12) rallied from two runs down to force extra innings, but fell when Morehead State (9-9) scored twice in the eighth. In game two, the Eagles (9-9) scored four times in the second inning and made that lead stand up.

In the opener, the Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the third on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Jacob Council. Morehead tied it on a base-loaded walk to Stephen Hill in the fifth, then took a 3-1 lead on an RBI groundout and wild pitch in a two-run sixth inning.

But the Spartans rallied in the bottom of the frame. A one-out error and walk set the stage for NSU to tie the game. Mason Velasquez's RBI single made it 3-2, then Council scored when MSU threw away an infield hit by Ty Hanchey to knot the score.

After a scoreless seventh, though, the Eagles took the lead for good in the eighth on Hill's two-run single. The Spartans were kept off the board in the eighth as MSU took the opener.

Cory Conway (2-1) picked up the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Eagles. Michael Portela (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in relief.

Justin Walton took a no-decision despite a strong start for the Spartans. He allowed just one run and struck out seven in five innings pitched.

Game two started off auspiciously for the Spartans. Council singled with two outs, and after a walk, came around on an RBI single by Korey Singh.

But the Eagles scored four times off three hits and an NSU error in the second. Cole Becker hit an RBI double, while the other runs scored on an RBI groundout, a balk and a wild pitch.

Ryley Preece's bases-loaded walk in the third accounted for the game's only other run.

MSU pitchers Luke Helton and John Bakke limited the Spartans to four hits. Helton earned the win with five innings of work, allowing one run. Bakke worked two scoreless innings.

James Deloatch (1-1) allowed two earned runs (five total) in four innings pitched for NSU. Tyrin Everette and Seth Hockett combined to work three scoreless innings out of the NSU bullpen.

The teams play another doubleheader starting at noon on Sunday.