NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State baseball team dropped a 10-5 decision to Central Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
 
Norfolk State fell to 3-14 on the season, while Central Connecticut State improved to 5-4. Tyler Mitchell (0-1) was credited with the loss.
 
Cameron Mazell led Norfolk State offensively, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Emmett Jefferson finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Brendan Burke went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and an RBI.
 
Parker Hampton started on the mound for Norfolk State and pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six. Mitchell, Sean Harris-Walter, James Godfrey, Ryan Sellers, and Myles Crocker also saw time in relief on the mound for the Spartans.
 
Central Connecticut State struck first in the top of the first inning with an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. Norfolk State answered in the bottom half of the inning. Thomas Ealey reached after getting hit by a pitch and later scored when Justin Journette ripped an RBI double to left field, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Central Connecticut State regained the lead in the third inning, using a pair of RBI doubles to push ahead 3-1. Norfolk State chipped away in the fifth inning. Jefferson doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Jaydan Israel drove him in with an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Spartans evened the score in the sixth inning when Burke launched a solo home run to left field, making it 3-3. Central Connecticut State broke the game open in the seventh inning. The Blue Devils opened the frame with back-to-back home runs before adding several more hits, including a two-run homer, to score six runs and take a 9-3 lead.
 
Norfolk State responded in the bottom of the seventh. Jefferson and Sean Stewart started the inning with singles before Mazell drove in two runs with a single to right field, trimming the deficit to 9-5.
 
Central Connecticut State added an insurance run in the ninth inning with a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 10-5 and go on to take the second game of the series.
 
Norfolk State and Central Connecticut State will close out the series on Sunday, March 15, at 12 p.m.
 
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