BALTIMORE, Md. – The Norfolk State baseball team put together a pair of valiant performances on Saturday but came up short in both games of a doubleheader at Coppin State.
 
The Eagles won the first game of the afternoon 8-4, before surviving a terrific outing from NSU starter Parker Hampton in a 10-inning, 4-3 result.
 
Norfolk State sophomore Ethan Blakeney received the start in game one, putting together a strong performance before a shaky sixth inning. The right hander tossed two scoreless innings to start, allowing one run in the third but regrouped immediately.
 
The Spartans took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a muffed play at first base. Ample baserunning from Jalan Jones in the fifth tacked another run on the board, before Blakeney produced a 1-2-3 inning on the mound to keep the momentum going.
 
Coppin State flipped the script in the sixth inning, racking up six runs on six hits to take a 7-3 advantage. Yasseel Samboy took the mound from there, allowing one run in 2.1 innings of work.
 
The Spartans added a run in the eighth inning but couldn't mount a comeback effort in the first matchup of the afternoon.
 
Norfolk State struck first in game two, scoring a run in the opening frame off strong baserunning by Jamal Ritter. Hampton started the day strong as well, holding the Eagles without a hit for the first two innings.
 
Coppin State tied the game 1-1 in the third inning, but Hampton pitched a 1-2-3 fourth frame with three consecutive groundouts to get back on track. The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but Hampton escaped with just one run of damage by forcing a double play and groundout in consecutive fashion.
 
The home team extended its lead to 3-1 in the seventh inning, but Norfolk State added a run in the eighth from Collin Curry's sacrifice fly. The Spartans continued to fight, tying the game 3-3 with a ninth-inning RBI from Jones.
 
After a long list of defensive substitutions, Norfolk State survived the bottom half of the ninth thanks to a strong stretch from freshman reliever Nyenati Snoh. The Eagles pulled off the victory in the first extra frame, though, walking things off with a double to right field.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE – GAME 1

• Norfolk State pitcher Ethan Blakeney (0-4) received the loss
• CSU starter Reagan Rivera earned the win (3-4)
• Coppin State outhit NSU 12-4
• Six of Blakeney's seven allowed earned runs came in the sixth inning
• Jamal Ritter went 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs and two stolen bases

 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE – GAME 2

• Norfolk State reliever Nyenati Snoh (0-2) received the loss
• CSU reliever Justin Ritz (2-0) earned the win
• NSU starter Parker Hampton allowed two runs and three hits in 5.0 innings
• Norfolk State's pitching staff allowed just four runs on seven hits
• Emmett Jefferson went 2-for-4 with a double

 
NOTES

• Norfolk State dropped to 1-25 (1-13 NEC)
• Coppin State improved to 9-22 (7-7 NEC)

 
ON DECK
 
The Spartans and Eagles conclude the series on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
 
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