TEANECK, N.J. – The Norfolk State baseball team earned its first win of the season on Friday, holding off a late FDU rally to take down the Knights 11-7 on the road.
Norfolk State starting pitcher
Parker Hampton (1-1) received the winning decision, allowing just two earned runs and five hits in six innings on the mound.
The Spartans set the tone with a fiery first inning. After
Jalan Jones got on base, Journette doubled down the right field line.
Jamal Ritter walked, before Beatty got a ball in play to set up a defensive error that brought three runs across the plate.
Terrence Rhodes ripped a triple inside the right field line soon after, giving Norfolk State a 5-0 advantage before the Knights' first at-bat. FDU scored two runs in its first opportunity, but Jones hit a leadoff homer in the second inning to get the Spartans going again.
Kydese Queen drove in Ritter with a double to give Norfolk State a 7-2 lead. Hampton pitched a 1-2-3 second inning, before the Spartans added two more runs in the third on RBI's from
Jaydan Israel and Journette.
A double play helped Hampton get through the third inning with no problems, pitching another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth as well. The sophomore continued to shine on the mound, racking up four strikeouts on the day before
Yasseel Samboy took the mound in the seventh frame.
Queen produced an RBI single before the pitching change and Samboy comfortably dispatched the first three batters he faced.
The Spartans allowed five runs in the final two innings, but held on for their first victory of the 2025 campaign.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Norfolk State starter Parker Hampton (1-1) earned the win
- FDU starter Chris Mattioloi (0-4) took the loss
- Hampton allowed just two earned runs and five hits in six innings, striking out four batters
- Jalan Jones tallied three runs, including a solo home run in the second inning
- Terrence Rhodes went 2-for-4 with two RBI's
NOTES
- Norfolk State improved to 1-16 on the season, 1-6 in NEC play
- FDU dropped to 2-20 with the loss, 2-5 in the NEC
ON DECK
Norfolk State and FDU continue the series on Saturday, facing off at 1 p.m.
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