NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team came up short in a thrilling showdown at Marty L. Miller Field on Friday, falling 12-11 in 11 innings against Wagner.
 
Jamal Ritter drew four walks to lead the Spartans in their conference opener, stealing three bases and racking up three runs. He also hit a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning.
 
Wagner got off to a quick start, launching a solo home run on the fourth pitch of the game. The Seahawks added a two-run homer in the second inning, taking a 3-0 lead.
 
Norfolk State got on the board in the bottom half of the same frame, starting with a single from Robert Beatty. Kydese Queen brought Beatty in from third with a sacrifice fly, bringing the Spartans within one.
 
Jalan Jones tied the game up for the Spartans in the third inning, belting a solo home run to right field. Brendan Burke gave NSU its first lead of the game an inning later, crushing an opposing pitch all the way to the Norfolk State Nursing & General Education Building for a three-run bomb.
 
The Spartans continued to attack in that same inning. Jones scored on a wild pitch, before Justin Journette hit his fifth home run of the season – a two-run shot to put NSU ahead 8-3.
 
The lead didn't last long. Wagner produced seven runs in the fifth inning on three hits, one error, and five walks to take a 10-8 lead.
 
Beatty logged his second RBI of the day, cutting the gap to one. Wagner added a run in the eighth, but Ritter responded with a clutch two-run homer immediately after to tie the game 11-11.
 
The game went to extra innings, with neither team able to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities in the ninth and 10^th frames. Wagner finally broke the tie with a sacrifice fly in the 11^th inning, before Seahawks pitcher Andrew Ravelo struck out the side to close out the result.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Norfolk State pitcher Reid Driskill (0-1) was credited with the loss
• Wagner pitcher Andrew Ravelo (1-0) earned the win
• Jamal Ritter logged three stolen bases, four walks, three runs, and a two-run home run for the Spartans
• Jalan Jones, Brendan Burke, and Justin Journette also hit home runs for NSU

 
 
NOTES

• Norfolk State dropped to 0-11 on the season with the loss
• Wagner improved to 4-7 with the win
• Justin Journette hit his fifth home run of the season on Friday, leading the NEC in the category

 
 
ON DECK
 
The teams return to Marty L. Miller Field for game two on Saturday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
 
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