NORFOLK, Va. – Cameron Bratton pitched a six-hit shutout and struck out eight to lead Maryland Eastern Shore to a 4-0 win over Norfolk State in the opener of a four-game series between the teams on Friday at Marty L. Miller Field.

Bratton went the distance in just 99 pitches and got three double plays from his defense.

The Hawks broke on top 1-0 on an RBI single by Ryan Howe in the top of the first. Howe's groundout in the third pushed the lead to 2-0.

That's all the Hawks (12-16, 11-10 MEAC) could get against NSU starter James Deloatch (3-3), who was also sharp on Friday. Deloatch scattered seven hits and two runs (one earned) with just one walk and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.

But Bratton was able to keep NSU (11-25, 8-13) at bay, and when the Spartans did get base runners, they were usually erased by the Hawk defense. NSU stranded just four runners on the day.

Brantley Cutler hit a two-run homer in the eighth for insurance runs for the Hawks.

Jacob Council led the Spartan offense with a 2-for-4 day. Howe and Cutler both had two hits and two RBIs for the Hawks.

The teams play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday.