NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team defeated Le Moyne 9-7 in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Marty L. Miller Field on Friday afternoon.
 
Norfolk State improved to 16-22 overall (12-10 NEC), while Le Moyne fell to 12-21 (12-10 NEC). Ethan Blakeney (4-3) earned the win, pitching five innings and striking out nine batters. Yasseel Samboy recorded his fourth save, tossing three innings and allowing one run. CJ Patterson also saw action in relief for the Spartans, pitching one inning.
 
Jaydan Israel led the Spartans, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a home run. Thomas Ealey finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a triple, while Hunter Gillespie went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Josiah Harrison and Cameron Mazell each added two hits, and Kydese Queen contributed two hits and an RBI.
 
Norfolk State jumped out early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Israel doubled to lead off the game and later scored on a groundout by Ryan Hoeft. Ealey scored on a wild pitch to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
 
The Spartans added another run in the second inning when Gillespie lifted a sacrifice fly to score Brendan Burke, extending the lead to 3-0. Norfolk State broke the game open in the fourth inning. Gillespie singled before Israel launched a two-run home run to right field, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
 
Le Moyne broke through in the fifth inning, using a bases-loaded walk and a groundout to score two runs and cut the deficit to 5-2. Norfolk State answered with three runs in the bottom half. Harrison delivered an RBI single, Queen followed with an RBI single, and Gillespie added an RBI single to stretch the lead to 8-2.
 
Le Moyne rallied in the sixth inning, capitalizing on walks, an error, and a hit to plate four runs and trim the margin to 8-6. Norfolk State responded again in the bottom of the sixth when Ealey tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Journette to make it 9-6.
 
Le Moyne added one final run in the ninth inning on a solo home run, but Samboy closed the door, striking out two of the final three batters to secure the victory.
 
ON DECK
Norfolk State returns to action Saturday, Apr. 25, closing the series against Le Moyne in a doubleheader due to predicted rain on Sunday, Apr. 26. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m., with game two following approximately 45 minutes after game one.  
 
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