NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team defeated Delaware State 16-6 in seven innings at Marty L. Miller Field on Friday afternoon.
 
Norfolk State improved to 5-14, while Delaware State dropped to 1-18. CJ Patterson (2-0) earned the win in relief for the Spartans.
 
Justin Journette powered Norfolk State's offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs, four runs scored, and a stolen base. Thomas Ealey and Mason Mompoint each went 2-for-3, while Cameron Mazell, Brendan Burke, and Emmett Jefferson added one hit.
 
Walker Fuller started on the mound and struck out five over three innings. Tyler Mitchell and CJ Patterson each pitched two innings in relief, recording three strikeouts apiece.
 
Norfolk State opened the scoring in the second inning, drawing three walks to load the bases before Mompoint worked a bases-loaded walk. Jefferson followed after getting hit by a pitch, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
 
Delaware State answered in the third, using a walk and two wild pitches to take a 3-2 advantage.
 
Mazell sparked a response in the bottom half, stealing second before Journette scored on a throwing error to tie the game. Mompoint and Jefferson followed with RBI singles, and the Spartans added a run on a walk and two sacrifice flies to build a 7-3 lead. Journette capped the eight-run inning with a two-run homer to right field, extending the lead to 10-3.
 
Delaware State cut into the deficit with a two-run single in the fifth, but Norfolk State responded with four runs in the bottom half, capitalizing on two errors and two hits to stretch the lead to 14-5.
 
The Hornets added a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout, but Journette ended the game in the bottom half with a two-run walk-off home run to left field.
 
Norfolk State and Delaware State will continue the series Saturday at Marty L. Miller Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
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