NORFOLK, Va. – Grant Vurpillat struck out nine over 6.2 innings pitched and David Marcano and Kevin Putsky had three hits each as NJIT avoided a three-game sweep by topping Norfolk State 10-4 on Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

Phillip Boykin had three hits while Dionte Brown and Jacob Council added two hits apiece for the Spartans (3-6), who, despite the loss, still notched their first weekend series win of the season. NSU won the first two games of the series from NJIT, which like NSU was an NCAA regional team in 2021.

Albert Choi hit a two-run triple and scored on a wild pitch in a three-run first for the Highlanders. Marcano singled and scored on an NSU error in the third, while Luke Longo knocked in another run in the sixth on a squeeze bunt for the only runs the Highlanders would need. The tacked on five more over the final two frames for insurance.

The Spartans scored all their runs in the final two innings. In the eighth, pinch hitter Kam Walker singled for his first collegiate hit and then scored on Brown's fourth triple of the year. Council knocked in Brown with a groundout.

In the bottom of the ninth, Steven Shaffer collected his first career RBI with a run-scoring triple, while Brown singled him in for the game's final run.

Vurpillat (1-1) did not walk a batter in recording the pitching victory for the Highlanders.

Dalton Barham (0-3) was charged with the loss. He allowed two earned runs in four innings and struck out five hitters. Dylan Flint fanned four in 3.2 innings of relief.

Marcano finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored for NJIT. He reached base six times, two by walk and one by a hit by pitch. Putsky was 3-for-5 with a solo homer for NJIT.

The Spartans hit the road for the first time this year this coming week as they travel to face Davidson for a three-game series Friday and Saturday in North Carolina.