Norfolk State University Athletics

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. --- Norfolk State baseball split a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore on Friday afternoon at Hawk Stadium following an eight-game homestand.
 
Norfolk State moved to 17-25 overall, while Maryland Eastern Shore stands at 8-32.
 
GAME 1: NORFOLK STATE 3 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE 9
The Spartans fell 9-3 in the first game of the doubleheader. Maryland Eastern Shore scored four runs in the first inning and never relinquished the lead.
 
Ethan Blakeney (4-4) took the loss after starting on the mound. Donovan Whitfield pitched the final three innings. Both pitchers recorded three strikeouts.
 
Norfolk State totaled 10 hits, led by Thomas Ealey with two hits and two stolen bases. Justin Journette added two hits and an RBI, while Cameron Mazell and Kydese Queen each recorded two hits, while Queen also drove in two runs.
 
Norfolk State struck first in the opening inning. Ealey singled, stole second, and scored on Journette's RBI double for a 1-0 lead.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore responded in the bottom half with two sacrifice flies and a two-run single to take a 4-1 advantage. Norfolk State cut the deficit to one in the fourth inning when Mazell and Ryan Hoeft singled before Queen delivered a two-run double to make it 4-3.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore extended its lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning, capitalizing on an error and a sacrifice fly. The Hawks broke the game open in the seventh, scoring four runs to build a 9-3 lead and holding the Spartans scoreless the rest of the way.
 
GAME 2: NORFOLK STATE 15 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE 8
Norfolk State answered with a 15-8 victory in the second game. Parker Hampton (4-1) earned the win, striking out four over six innings. Tyler Mitchell, CJ Patterson and Yasseel Samboy pitched in relief.
 
Journette led the Spartans with three hits and three RBIs. Hunter Gillespie added two hits and three RBIs, while Ealey recorded two hits, two RBIs and four stolen bases. Mason Mompoint finished with two hits and an RBI.
 
Norfolk State broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on five hits and taking advantage of multiple errors for a 7-0 lead. The Spartans added three runs in the fifth. Ealey drove in two with a single, and Journette followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 10-0.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Norfolk State maintained control. The Spartans added four runs in the seventh to push the lead to 14-4. Mompoint delivered an RBI single, Queen drew a bases-loaded walk, Gillespie added an RBI groundout, and Jaydan Israel capped the inning with an RBI single.
 
Norfolk State tacked on a run in the ninth to close the scoring and take game two of the afternoon.
 
ON DECK
The teams will close the three-game series on Sunday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at Hawk Stadium. Forecasted rain canceled Saturday's game.
 
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