NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team rallied from a late deficit to defeat Central Connecticut State 10-9 in 10 innings on Friday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
The Spartans improved to 3-13 (1-3 NEC) with the win, while Central Connecticut State fell to 4-4 (3-1 NEC).
Yasseel Samboy (1-0) earned the win in relief.
Thomas Ealey paced Norfolk State at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Justin Journette finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored, an RBI and a home run.
Cameron Mazell delivered the game-winning single in the 10th inning for his lone hit of the day.
Walker Fuller started on the mound for the Spartans, striking out four over five innings.
Ethan Blakeney,
Tyler Mitchell, and Samboy followed in relief.
Central Connecticut State struck first in the opening inning, taking a 1-0 lead after a Norfolk State error.
Jaydan Israel quickly answered for the Spartans, scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game.
The Blue Devils regained the lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to left field, moving ahead 2-1. Norfolk State responded in the bottom of the inning when
Josiah Harrison drove a two-RBI single to right-center field, giving the Spartans a 3-2 advantage.
Central Connecticut State surged back in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on three hits, including a home run to center field, to take a 6-3 lead. Journette trimmed the deficit in the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field, cutting the score to 6-4.
The Blue Devils added another run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 7-4. Norfolk State answered in the bottom half of the inning when Ealey tripled to right field, driving in two runs to pull the Spartans within one at 7-6. Mazell followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at 7-7.
Central Connecticut State regained control in the eighth inning with a double steal and later scored on a Norfolk State passed ball, pushing the lead to 9-7. The Spartans responded in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the deficit to 9-8.
Norfolk State forced extra innings in the ninth. Journette reached base before Harrison singled to right field to move him into scoring position.
Ryan Hoeft tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Samboy held the Blue Devils scoreless in the top of the 10th despite two runners reaching base.
Sean Stewart opened the bottom half of the inning with a single, and Ealey later helped load the bases. Mazell then lined a walk-off single to bring Stewart home and secure the 10-9 victory.
Norfolk State and Central Connecticut State continue the series on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m. at Marty L. Miller Field.
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