NORFOLK, Va. | Manny Jackson homered twice and drove in all six runs as the Norfolk State University baseball team got back into the win column with a 6-3 victory in extra innings over Stonehill College to open a three-game Northeast Conference (NEC) series on Friday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field.
Jackson, who went 2-for-5, belted a three-run homer in the third inning, giving the Spartans (4-19 overall, 2-5 NEC) a 3-2 advantage. With the score tied at 3 in the 10th inning, Jackson came to the plate and drilled a 2-2 pitch deep over the right field wall for the walk-off victory.
Stonehill (3-17, 1-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead through two innings, but Norfolk State answered with three runs in the bottom of the third.
Tommie Woods began the inning with a walk but was out at second when Brandon Cleveland reached on a fielder' choice. Cleveland was picked off trying to steal for the second out. Dionte Brown, who went 3-for-5, and Raphael Rodriguez both singled to right. Jackson stepped to the plate and hammered a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall, giving the Spartans the 3-2 lead.
The Skyhawks rallied and tied the game at 3 with a run in the seventh and the score remained 3-3 until the bottom of the 10th.
With one down in the frame, Brown doubled to left and after a pitching change, Rodriguez drew a walk, setting the stage for the dramatic walk-off win. Jackson fouled the first pitch before looking at two balls. He swung at the fourth pitch and fouled off the fifth, before launching the ball deep over the wall in right as the team celebrated the victory.
Norfolk State finished with six runs on nine hits, with two errors and left six on base, while Stonehill, which bounced into three double plays, registered three runs on 11 hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded nine on base.
Donovan Whitfield turned in one of the best starting performances of the season for NSU, pitching six innings as he did not figure into the decision. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, fanned a season-high seven and walked three. Matt Stanley, Mac Yarbrough and Joe Lafave (1-0) pitched in relief. Lafave worked one inning, striking out one, despite surrendering three hits.
Zach Gleason started for the Skyhawks, pitched 3.1 innings as he gave up three runs on five hits and walked a pair. Jack Iannibelli (2-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up one run on three hits and struck out eight in six innings. Tim Cotter also worked in relief.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State continues its three-game series with Stonehill on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. from Marty L. Miller Baseball Field.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @NSUSpartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
