NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team couldn't close out a strong effort on Saturday afternoon, falling 12-8 against Wagner at Marty L. Miller Field.
Collin Curry led the Spartans (0-12, 0-2 NEC) at the plate, going 3-of-5 with four RBIs and a solo home run. Wagner (5-7, 2-0) totaled 14 hits, drawing seven walks as well.
Getting off to a strong start, Nathan Varnier pitched three innings of no-hit baseball before Wagner finally got something going in the fourth. The Spartans took advantage, going ahead on an early solo homer from Curry before taking a 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning.
Wagner used a pair of walks to get on base in the fourth, scoring two runs in the process. The Seahawks kept things going with another run in the fifth, evening the game at 3-3.
The Spartans responded right back.
Kydese Queen launched a solo home run to left field in the bottom half of the inning, his first deep shot of the 2025 season.
Ethan Blakeney took the mound for the Spartans in the sixth inning. After giving up a pair of quick hits, he steadied himself to get out of a jam by producing a strikeout and groundout.
Curry continued his strong day in the sixth inning, bringing a run home with a single through the middle.
Emmett Jefferson added a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat, putting Norfolk State ahead 6-3.
Blakeney got out of another dangerous situation in the seventh inning, getting out unscathed with a strikeout and popout. He did not have the same production in the eighth, allowing four runs on four hits as Wagner took a 7-6 lead.
The Spartans came up empty in the bottom of the eighth.
Yasseel Samboy came in to pitch the ninth, giving up one earned run before the Seahawks added four more from two NSU errors.
Jaydan Israel extended his hit streak to 12 games, logging a single in the ninth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Curry extended the matchup by one more at-bat with a two-RBI single.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Norfolk State pitcher Ethan Blakeney (0-2) was credited with the loss
- Wagner pitcher Keith Davis (2-1) earned the win
- Collin Curry went 3-for-5 with four RBI's and a solo home run
- Jamal Ritter drew four walks for the Spartans
- Norfolk State gave up four unearned runs in the eighth inning after back-to-back defensive errors
NOTES
- Norfolk State dropped to 0-12 on the season, 0-2 in NEC play with the loss
- Wagner improved to 5-7 with the win, 2-0 in the NEC
- Jaydan Israel extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the ninth inning
- Collin Curry and Kydese Queen each logged their first home run of the season
ON DECK
The teams return to Marty L. Miller Field on Sunday at 12 p.m. to conclude the series.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.