NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team bounced back from a Friday loss to Merrimack swiftly, evening the series with a 7-4 victory at Marty L. Miller Field on Saturday.
 
The Spartans (11-27, 6-14 NEC) received strong pitching performances from John Hornton and Ethan Blakeney, while Manny Jackson led the Spartan offense with three RBI's on three hits.
 
The top hitting team in the conference, the Warriors showed off their power from the first pitch. Merrimack launched two solo home runs in the opening inning to take command early.
 
The Spartans regrouped quickly. After Justin Journette drew a full-count walk, Jackson got a blooping single to fall, bringing his teammate around the basepaths for Norfolk State's first score of the game.
 
Horton began to find his groove from there. After two scoreless innings from the right hander, Jackson notched his second RBI of the day with a solo home run to right field, tying the game 2-2.
 
The Spartans took their first lead of the afternoon an inning later, fueled by a leadoff double from freshman Kydese Queen. A sacrifice fly moved him to third, before Swaroop Pujari produced a ground ball for the RBI.
 
Norfolk State kept the pressure going. Jackson ripped a double down the line to bring a run in, before Mazell added another RBI single moments later to put the Spartans ahead 5-2.
 
Merrimack finally found some momentum against Horton in the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs after getting three consecutive batters on base to start the frame.
 
The Spartans continued to rack up hits, though. Emmett Jefferson doubled to right field on a high-hit ball before Raphael Rodriguez singled through the gap to give NSU a 6-4 lead. Norfolk State added another run in the bottom of the seventh, as Brendan Burke knocked an RBI double to left center.
 
Blakeney took the mound for the Spartans' final three innings, earning the save in dominant fashion. The freshman pitched three scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and two walks.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Spartans and Warriors will conclude the series on Sunday morning. First pitch has been moved up to 8 a.m. due to inclement weather on the forecast.
 
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