NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team earned a 9-8 extra-inning victory over New Haven in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
 
Norfolk State improved to 14-21 overall (11-13 NEC), while New Haven fell to 5-25 (4-13 NEC). Yasseel Samboy (5-1) picked up the win in relief, earning his second win of the weekend, while Carson Morgan (1-2) took the loss.
 
Ryan Hoeft powered the Spartans at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBIs. Thomas Ealey added three hits and scored twice, while Josiah Harrison drove in two runs, including the game-winner. Emmett Jefferson contributed an RBI, and Jaydan Israel scored three runs and reached base three times.
 
Parker Hampton started on the mound for Norfolk State, striking out one over three innings. Donovan Whitfield delivered a strong relief outing, allowing one run over five innings while striking out five. Tyler Mitchell worked a scoreless ninth inning, and Samboy closed the game with a scoreless 10th.
 
Norfolk State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Hoeft lined a two-run single. New Haven responded with a four-run second inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take a 4-2 advantage. The Chargers added three more runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 7-2.
 
The Spartans began to chip away in the third inning when Harrison drove in a run to make it 7-3. Norfolk State completed the comeback in the fifth inning as Hoeft launched a grand slam to even the score at 7-7.
 
Both teams traded chances before Norfolk State took its first lead since the opening inning in the seventh. Jefferson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Hoeft and give the Spartans an 8-7 edge.
New Haven answered in the eighth inning with an RBI single to tie the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.
 
In the 10th, Norfolk State loaded the bases with no outs. Harrison delivered the decisive hit, lining an RBI single to left field to score Israel and secure the 9-8 walk-off victory.
 
ON DECK
Norfolk State closes its three-game series against New Haven on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Marty L. Miller Field.
 
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