NORFOLK, Va. | Raphael Rodriguez, Manny Jackson and Justin Journette registered nine of Norfolk State's 21 hits as the Spartans opened Northeast Conference (NEC) play with a 14-11 victory over Sacred Heart on Friday at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field.
Journette led the way at the plate by going 3-for-4, with three RBI and three runs scored. Jackson went 3-for-4, with two runs scored and one RBI and Rodriguez was 3-for-5, with two runs scored and one run batted in.
Zac Capps started on the hill, lasting two innings as he gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. John Horton, Max McCrary and Joe Lafave worked in relief. McCrary (2-1) picked up the victory by pitching 4.2 innings. He surrendered four runs (two earned) on five hits, fanned five and walked one. Lafave got the final out to earn the save.
Sacred Heart (4-7 overall, 0-1 NEC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Spartans answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 lead.
Dionte Brown ripped a one-out base hit to left and advanced to third on a Rodriguez double to center. Jackson followed with an infield hit as Brown scored. Jacob Council plated Rodriguez with a single up the middle. Chance Pollard followed with a base hit through the right side as Jackson scored from third as the Spartans took a 3-2 advantage.
The Pioneers picked up a pair of runs on two hits in the third inning to grab a 4-3 lead and exploded for three runs one just one hit in the fourth to extend the advantage to 7-3.
Norfolk State (3-9, 1-0) cut the deficit to 7-4 with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Journette led off the frame with a solo homer to left field.
The Spartans continued to rally, plating five runs on six hits to take a 9-7 lead.
Jackson led off with a base hit to center and moved to second on a Council single up the middle. Cam Mazell reached on an infield hit to load the bases. Journette followed with a single to left, scoring Jackson and Council. Steven Shaffer reached on an infield hit to plate Mazell and Journette scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Brown. Shaffer came around to score on a wild pitch.
Norfolk State added two more runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 12-7.
Sacred Heart trimmed the deficit to 12-8 with a run in the seventh and one more in the eighth inning.
The Spartans put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the frame, taking a 14-9 lead into the final inning.
The Pioneers tried to rally in the ninth, plating a pair of runs but the Spartans slammed the door shut to pick up their first conference win.
Jake Babuschak started for Sacred Heart on the mound, giving up four runs on nine hits, with four strikeouts and one walk in four innings pitched. Jake McDowell took the loss in pitching just one inning as he gave up five runs on six hits, with one strikeout. Jack Bebbington and Trent Price also pitched in relief.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to action for the second game of the series on Saturday against Sacred Heart. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Marty L. Miller Baseball Field.
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