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Terrence Rhodes
Matt Patterson
13
Winner Norfolk St. NSUBB 2-31, 2-19 NEC
2
Central Conn. St. CCSU 24-9, 19-2 NEC
Winner
Norfolk St. NSUBB
2-31, 2-19 NEC
13
Final
2
Central Conn. St. CCSU
24-9, 19-2 NEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Norfolk St. NSUBB 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 3 5 13 18 2
Central Conn. St. CCSU 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 9 1

W: Varnier, Nathaniel (1-4) L: J. Hines (1-2) S: Crocker, Myles (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Alex Lehmbeck, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Communication

Spartans Catch Fire, Rout League-Leading CCSU 13-2

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Norfolk State put together a terrific team performance on Sunday afternoon, taking down NEC heavyweight Central Connecticut State 13-2 at CCSU Baseball Field.

The Spartans (2-31, 2-19 NEC) handed CCSU (24-9, 19-2) its first NEC loss since Mar. 8, snapping a 19-game conference winning streak from the Blue Devils.

Norfolk State started Nathaniel Varnier tossed 6.0 innings in a winning performance, allowing just one run while striking out seven batters. Freshman Myles Crocker earned the save, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings to close things out.

After two scoreless innings, the Spartans struck first in the top of the third. Jalan Jones knocked a single to left field, bringing in two runs.

Central Connecticut State responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but Varnier produced a groundout to keep things moving with minimal damage. He pitched an efficient fifth inning as well, sending NSU to the sixth with a 3-1 lead.

The Spartans added another score in the sixth frame, generated by an RBI single from Terrence Rhodes. After another strong stretch by Varnier on the mound, Norfolk State increased the lead to 5-1 in the seventh with an RBI base hit from Kydese Queen.

Norfolk State refused to back down. CCSU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh, but freshman Crocker got the Spartans out of the situation with just one run of damage.

NSU took complete control in the third, scoring three runs on five hits. Jones and Justin Journette scraped together back-to-back hits to drive in a pair of baserunners, before Ritter contributed a sacrifice fly.

Norfolk State poured in five more runs in the ninth inning, as Jones, Ritter, Queen, and Robert Beatty added RBI's.

Crocker took care of the closing stretch, pitching the final two innings with little trouble. The first-year right hander forced a ground ball double play in the ninth inning, putting the finishing touches on the monumental victory.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
  • Norfolk State starter Nathaniel Varnier (1-4) earned the win
  • CCSU starter Jacob Hines (1-2) received the loss
  • NSU freshman Myles Crocker earned his first career save
  • NSU racked up 18 hits to produce a season-best 13 runs
  • Emmett Jefferson went 5-of-5 at the plate on Sunday, hitting five singles
  • Jones went 3-of-6 with four RBIs
 
NOTES
  • Norfolk State improved to 2-31 (2-19 NEC)
  • CCSU dropped to 24-9 (19-2 NEC), snapping a 19-game conference winning streak
  • The Spartans earned their second road victory of the season
 
ON DECK
 
Norfolk State returns home for a three-game conference series against Mercyhurst next weekend, starting with a 3 p.m. matchup on Friday, May 2.
 
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.
 
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