NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team concluded its season with a doubleheader against Le Moyne on Friday afternoon – the Dolphins winning both games by scores of 10-4 and 12-11.
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Prior to the first game of the afternoon, Norfolk State recognized seven exceptional student-athletes for its senior day festivities:
Joe Lafave,
John Horton,
Dalton Barham,
Noah Wiggins,
Raphael Rodriguez,
Nolan Manzer, and
Manny Jackson.
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Wiggins received the start for the Spartans, allowing one run in the first inning. The Spartans answered quickly, though, capitalizing on a leadoff single from
Jamal Ritter, tying the game 1-1 on a groundball from Jackson.
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Le Moyne tallied two more runs in the second, before scoring on a triple in the fourth inning. The Dolphins kept applying pressure, racking up three runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead.
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Justin Journette doubled to right field shortly after, bringing home
Jalan Jones as the Spartans continued to fight. After Le Moyne tallied an insurance run, NSU freshman
Kydese Queen nailed a two-run home run in the eighth inning, cutting the gap to 8-4.
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A long inning defensively for Norfolk State allowed two more Dolphin runs, as Le Moyne closed out the series-clinching victory.
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The Spartans came out for the second battle energized. Ritter continued his strong day as the team's leadoff batter, getting home for the first run of the ballgame.
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Le Moyne gained a 2-1 advantage with a pair of runs in the second inning, but the Spartans took control immediately after.
Swaroop Pujari cleared the bases with a triple, before scoring on a wild pitch to give Norfolk State a 5-2 lead.
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Pujari made his way around the bases again in the third inning, increasing the Spartans' advantage. Le Moyne rallied back with four runs in the next two frames, tying the game 6-6.
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Cam Mazell brought home three baserunners with a timely double in the seventh inning. Pujari added another double on the next at-bat, before hits from Ritter and
Emmett Jefferson pushed NSU ahead 11-6.
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Le Moyne launched a pair of two-run home runs in the eighth inning to storm back, pulling within one. The Dolphins kept the rally going in the ninth, taking a 12-11 lead on two singles, before closing things out in the ninth.
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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.
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