NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team rallied back from a six-run deficit but couldn't overcome Le Moyne on Sunday in a 14-9 loss.
 
The Spartans poured in six runs in the eighth inning to tie the game 9-9, but the Dolphins responded with five runs to take back control in the final stages of the matchup.
 
Le Moyne struck first with a pair of runs in the first inning. A two-run homer with two outs in the second inning pushed Le Moyne's lead to 4-2.
 
The Spartans showed life in the next frame, getting their first four batters on base. Journette knocked a two-RBI single through the left side, cutting the gap in half, but Le Moyne pitcher Jacob Crystal steadied himself to get three straight outs from there.
 
Starting pitcher Nathaniel Varnier found a groove on the mound, producing a 1-2-3 third inning that kept the Dolphins at bay. The senior left hander caught a baserunner in a pickle in the fourth inning, getting out of the frame unscathed as well.
 
Le Moyne's bats heated up again in the fifth, scoring two runs on a powerful home run to right field. The Dolphins added two more in the sixth, before Robert Beatty launched a solo homer for the second consecutive game.
 
After Le Moyne scored to counter the Beatty shot, the Spartans put together their charge in the eighth. Jalen Jones sparked the surge with a leadoff double, before Journette sent his ninth home run of the season over the deepest part of the ballpark.
 
Kydese Queen got on base, scoring one play later from an Emmett Jefferson double down the line. Beatty singled up the middle, bringing the tying run to the plate.
 
Brendan Burke answered the call, crushing a two-run homer out of the park to tie the game 9-9.

Le Moyne didn't allow the turnaround to stifle the squad offensively. The Dolphins drew four consecutive walks to start the bottom half of the eighth inning, regaining the lead.
 
Multiple defensive errors allowed Le Moyne to rack up five runs in the inning, going ahead 14-9. Jones got on base with a leadoff single in the ninth inning, but Dolphins pitcher Billy Hoffacker nabbed three straight outs from there to close out the ballgame.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Norfolk State pitcher Walker Fuller (0-5) received the loss on Sunday
• Le Moyne reliever Billy Hoffacker (2-2) earned the win
• Norfolk State outhit the Dolphins 12-10
• Le Moyne committed no errors, while Norfolk State recorded three
• Three Spartans hit home runs on Sunday: Justin Journette, Robert Beatty, and Brendan Burke

NOTES

• Norfolk State dropped to 1-21 on the season, 1-11 in NEC play
• Le Moyne improved to 8-15 with the win, 7-2 in the NEC
• Norfolk State rallied from a 9-3 deficit with a six-run eighth inning
• Justin Journette hit his ninth home run of the season on Sunday
• Robert Beatty recorded his second career home run
• Brendan Burke tied the game with his second home run of the season

 
ON DECK
 
Norfolk State remains home for a midweek matchup against VMI, slated for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 2.
 
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