BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Norfolk State baseball team couldn't produce the offensive showing that it has consistently accumulated this season, falling 6-1 at Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon.
 
Sacred Heart (23-19, 18-6 NEC) started things off with two runs in the first inning on a pair of hard-hit ground balls. NSU (11-32, 6-18) starting pitcher Liam Royster steadied himself from there, getting through the next two innings unscathed, allowing just one hit during that stretch.
 
After a hit-by-pitch got the Pioneers on base in the fourth inning, Sacred Heart went ahead 4-0 on another slow roller.
 
Jamal Ritter continued his strong weekend with a solo home run in the fifth, Norfolk State's lone score of the day.
 
Sacred Heart responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, pulling off a double steal with runners on the corners. An RBI double in the sixth gave the Pioneers a 6-1 advantage.
 
Mac Yarbrough took the mound for the final stretch of the afternoon, preventing the home team from increasing the gap. Despite loading the bases with no outs, the sophomore showed poise to force a double play and fielders choice, getting out of the inning with no damage on the scoreboard.
 
Yabrough racked up two strikeouts in the eighth inning, but the Spartans could not muster a rally in the ninth, dropping the final game of the series.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Spartans return home on Friday, May 3 to face FDU in a conference series at Marty L. Miller Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
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