BROOKVILLE, N.Y. --- The Norfolk State baseball team opens its first road series of the season this weekend, taking on Long Island in a three-game set at LIU Baseball Field.
Norfolk State enters the weekend with a 2-8 overall record, while LIU is seeking its first win of the season at 0-7. The series will mark the first Northeast Conference (NEC) matchup of the season for both teams.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow the series through live stats on the LIU athletics website. All three games will also be streamed for free on NEC Front Row.
THIS WEEKEND'S SCHEDULE
Friday, March 6 – 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 – 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 – 1 p.m.
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
The Spartans are led by
Thomas Ealey, who is hitting .414 with 12 hits, six runs scored, two RBIs, and one triple this season. Earlier this week, Ealey was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award watchlist by the College Baseball Foundation.
Justin Journette ranks second on the team with a .361 batting average and leads Norfolk State with 13 hits and four home runs this season. Freshman infielder
Mason Mompoint is batting .321 with nine hits, including one home run and one double.
On the mound,
Ethan Blakeney (1-2) leads the Spartans with 13 strikeouts this season, while
Walker Fuller (0-2) has recorded nine strikeouts.
Yasseel Samboy (0-0) holds the team's lowest ERA at 3.86.
ABOUT LONG ISLAND
LIU is led offensively by Noah Sorenson, who is batting .444 with a team-leading 12 hits. Ryan Rivera follows closely with a .440 batting average, recording 11 hits, six RBIs, four runs scored, one double, and one home run. Nick Matson ranks third on the team with a .379 batting average.
Nicholas Finarelli (0-2) leads the pitching staff with 11 strikeouts this season. James Lordi (0-1) and Justin DeCastro (0-2) each have four strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY
Norfolk State holds a 1-8 all-time record against LIU. The Spartans earned their first win in the series during the 2023 season with a 5-2 victory. LIU swept Norfolk State in last year's three-game series, winning by scores of 4-3, 14-2, and 8-5.
LAST TIME OUT
Norfolk State dropped three games to Mount St. Mary's last weekend (6-13, 5-6, 7-24) at Marty L. Miller Field in Norfolk. Journette led the Spartans during the series with a .384 batting average, three RBIs, and two home runs. Ealey also had a strong weekend, hitting .571 with two stolen bases.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns home for a busy week at Marty L. Miller Field, hosting Navy on March 10 at 3 p.m., VMI on March 11 at 3 p.m., and opening a three-game series with Central Connecticut State on Friday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
