TEANECK, N.J. --- The Norfolk State baseball team dropped a pair of games to Long Island, falling 15-4 in the opener and 7-5 in the second game on Saturday afternoon.
Norfolk State moved to 2-10 (0-2 NEC), while LIU improved to 2-7 (2-0 NEC).
Thomas Ealey (0-1) and
Walker Fuller (0-3) took the losses for the Spartans.
GAME 1: NORFOLK STATE 4, LONG ISLAND 15 (F/7)
Long Island jumped out to an early lead in the opener, scoring five runs in the first inning behind a grand slam and a sacrifice fly to take a 5-0 advantage.
Norfolk State responded in the third when
Justin Journette blasted a solo home run to right field. The Sharks answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 7-1.
Cameron Mazell launched a solo homer in the fourth to trim the deficit, but Long Island responded with four runs in the bottom half to stretch the margin to 11-2.
The Spartans added two runs in the fifth.
Jaydan Israel and
Thomas White scored after Journette delivered an RBI single, and a wild pitch allowed another run to cross the plate. Long Island pulled away with four runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the run-rule victory.
Journette led Norfolk State at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Mazell finished 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. Israel added a hit and a run scored.
Ealey took the loss for the Spartans.
Nyenati Snoh worked 2.2 innings with two strikeouts in relief, while
Myles Crocker and
CJ Patterson combined to finish the game, with Patterson tossing a scoreless inning.
GAME 2: NORFOLK STATE 5, LONG ISLAND 7
Long Island took the early lead in the second game of the day with a solo home run in the first inning before adding two runs in the second to build a 3-0 advantage. The Sharks pushed the lead to 6-0 in the third with a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer.
Norfolk State answered in the fourth inning.
Mason Mompoint drove in a run with a single before
Josiah Harrison launched a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Spartans continued to chip away in the fifth when Mazell doubled to score
Thomas Ealey and pull Norfolk State within one run.
Long Island added an insurance run in the sixth to make it 7-5, and Norfolk State threatened late but could not break through against the Sharks' bullpen.
Harrison paced Norfolk State offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Mazell added two hits, including a double, and an RBI, while Mompoint chipped in a hit, an RBI, and a walk.
Fuller took the loss for the Spartans in the second game of the day.
Ethan Blakeney provided a strong relief outing, tossing four innings while allowing just one run and striking out four.
UP NEXT
The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday, March 8, in Teaneck, N.J.
