NORFOLK, Va. | Cam Mazell belted a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 2 as the Norfolk State University baseball team earned a doubleheader split in Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field.
Norfolk State (8-32 overall, 5-15 NEC) dropped the opener, 6-4, but claimed a 7-5 victory in the second game to split the two games.
In the opener, Maryland Eastern Shore (15-27, 11-10) quickly got onto the scoreboard, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning to grab a 4-0 lead.
Norfolk State picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, closing the gap to 4-1.
Raphael Rodriguez and Jacob Council opened the inning with singles to right and both advanced a base on a groundout by Cam Mazell. Nathan Ade followed with a single up the middle as Rodriguez scored.
The Spartans got a solo homer to left center by Justin Journette in the sixth as NSU trimmed the deficit to 4-2.
Norfolk State tied the game at 4 with two runs in the seventh.
With two outs, Dominic Joseph and Steven Shaffer reached on back-to-back singles. Dionte Brown followed with an RBI single to left center as Joseph came across to score and Shaffer stopped at third. After a Brown stolen base, Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases. Shaffer scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
The Hawks broke the tie in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs to take a 6-4 advantage.
Norfolk State finished with four runs on 10 hits, committed one error and left seven on base. Maryland Eastern Shore registered six runs on 10 hits and also stranded seven on base.
Zac Capps started on the mound, surrendering four runs on six hits, fanning nine and walking just two in five innings of work. Max McCrary (4-3) took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, with three strikeouts.
Noah Covington (4-7) earned the victory, going seven innings and giving up four runs on 10 hits, with four strikeouts and one walk. Porter Braddy and Nick Gatton (first save) pitched in relief.
In the second game, Norfolk State got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
With one down in the frame, Journette drew a walk and came across to score on a two-run homer to deep right by Mazell as the Spartans grabbed an early 2-0 lead.
Maryland Eastern Shore cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the top half of the third.
The Hawks tied the game at 2 with a run in the fifth, but NSU answered in the bottom of the sixth.
Camrin Sturgeon opened the frame with a double to right. Council was hit by a pitch and Journette singled to load the bases. Mazell flied out to left for the sacrifice as Sturgeon scored to put the Spartans back on top, 3-2.
However, UMES pushed across two runs in the seventh, taking a 4-3 advantage.
Norfolk State plated two runs in the eighth as the Spartans moved ahead, 5-4.
Sturgeon opened the inning with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Brandon Cleveland. Council singled through the right side and Cleveland stopped at third. Journette scored Cleveland with a sacrifice fly to center and Council came across on a double to right center by Mazell.
Maryland Eastern Shore got a solo homer by Brian Cordell in the top of the ninth, tying the game at 5.
The Spartans won the game in the 10th, earning the doubleheader split.
Council began the inning with a single to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one down, Mazell, who went 3-for-4 with six RBI, blasted a two-run towering homer over the wall in right for the walk-off victory.
Norfolk State finished with seven runs on 13 hits, with one error and left 10 on base. Maryland Eastern Shore registered five runs on eight hits and stranded five on base.
Antonio Velasquez started and went three innings, giving up one run on two hits, with one strikeout and one walk. Matt Stanely, Donovan Whitfield, Nolan Manzer and Mac Yarbrough pitched in relief. Yarbrough (1-2) earned the win in working 1.1 innings. He walked two and struck out one
Evan Nibblett started on the mound for the Hawks, surrendering three runs on seven hits, fanning seven and walking one. Gary Hallmen, Andrew Jackson, Brandon Gomez, Blake Rebstock and Nick Gatton pitched in relief. Gatton (2-4) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to action on Friday in North Andover, Mass. for a three-game NEC series at Merrimack. First Pitch for the series opener is set for 3 p.m.
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.
