NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team came roaring back from an 8-0 deficit against St. Peter's on Friday afternoon, scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 12-9 win in the series opener between the teams at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Peacocks (2-7) hit five home runs in the first five innings and held NSU (3-6) in check early, taking an 8-0 entering the home half of the fifth inning. But the Spartans woke up in a big way in their half of the fifth, sending 15 batters to the plate, pounding out six hits and taking advantage of five free passes and a Peacock error to storm back in front. 

Brendan Wilson got the scoring started for St. Peter's in the top of the first with a two-out solo home run to right-center field. The Peacocks added seven more runs in the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by four more home runs – two in each inning. Logan Baker's grand slam in the fourth started the binge, and Wilson hit his second solo homer of the day in the fifth to cap the uprising and give the Peacocks an 8-0 lead.

After being held hitless for four innings by Peacock starter Mason Williams, NSU erupted in the bottom of the fifth. The Spartans got their first hit of the day on a lead-off triple by Justin Journette. Pinch runner Sean Bell then scored on a wild pitch to give NSU its first run. An error, a hit batter and a Jalan Jones single loaded the bases, still with no outs. Kydese Queen and Jamal Ritter drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to cut the NSU deficit to 8-3.

A wild pitch brought home another NSU run before consecutive RBI singles by Cam Mazell and Bell made it 8-6. Camrin Sturgeon's sacrifice fly cut the SPU lead to one before Jones roped a three-run double to put the Spartans ahead. Queen capped the rally with an RBI double of his own, pushing NSU in front 11-8.

Jones tacked on another RBI double in the seventh as the Spartans' lead grew to 12-8.

SPU loaded the bases thanks to an error, a single and a walk in the eighth. But NSU reliever Nolan Manzer held the Peacocks to a single run in the inning, and the right-hander worked around two walks by fanning three batters in the ninth to close out the NSU win.

Jones was 3-for-4 with four RBIs for the Spartans. Bell added two hits and two runs off the NSU bench. Raphael Rodriguez and Jones also scored two runs apiece.

Dalton Barham (2-1) got the win for NSU, pitching the first five innings and striking out seven. Manzer collected his first save of the season, striking out four in 1.2 hitless innings of relief.

UP NEXT
The teams play game two of the weekend series at 1 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting. 

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