LEXINGTON, Va. | Jacob Council belted a grand slam in the first inning, but the Norfolk State University baseball team could not hold onto the lead as VMI rallied for an 11-9 victory on Saturday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium.
Norfolk State (3-14) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Dionte Brown opened the game with a single to left and stole second, before advancing to third on an error. After a Justin Journette walk put runners on the corners, Raphael Rodriguz singled, plating Brown from third as Journette stopped at second. After a walk to Steven Shaffer, Council, who went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, delivered the big blow with a grand slam homer down the right field line as the Keydets were forced to make a pitching change.
VMI (12-8) answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs on six hits and took advantage of a pair of NSU errors to grab a 6-5 advantage.
The Spartans forged ahead with a pair of runs in the third inning.
With one out, Council reached on an infield hit and moved to second when Cam Mazell drew a walk. Nathan Ade singled to center, plating Council and with runners on the corners, Dominic Joseph was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded Mazell scored when the pitcher tried to pick off Joseph at first as NSU went ahead 7-6.
The Keydets responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs on three hits and took advantage of an error to grab a 9-7 lead.
Norfolk State tied the game at 9 with a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth.
Council opened the inning with a walk and moved to second when Tommie Woods was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, Mazell singled to right, scoring Council as Woods advanced to third. Woods came across to score on Ade's sacrifice fly to center.
VMI plated a run in the sixth and one more in the eighth to grab an 11-9 advantage.
Norfolk State threatened in the ninth as Shaffer reached on a fielding error to begin the inning but was out at second as Council bounced into a double play. A flyout to center by Woods ended the game as the Keydets battled back for the victory.
The Spartans finished with nine runs on eight hits, committed five errors and left six on base.
The Keydets registered 11 runs on 13 hits, committed two errors and stranded 10 on base.
Zac Capps lasted one inning as he was tagged for six runs (five earned) on six hits, with one walk. Max McCrary (2-2) took over in the second inning and pitched five innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Nolan Manzer
Tyler Kaltreider started and did not record an out as he surrendered five earned runs on three hits, with two walks. Jack Thompson, Caden Plummer, Clark Driscoll and Holden Wilkerson (1-1) worked in relief.
UP NEXT
The Spartans wrap up their three-game series at VMI on Sunday. First pitch against the Keydets is set for 1 p.m. from Gray-Minor Stadium.
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