EASTON, Mass. --- The Norfolk State baseball team split its season finale against Stonehill on Saturday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field. Norfolk State closed the season 20-31 overall, while Stonehill finished 21-28.
GAME 1: NORFOLK STATE 6, STONEHILL 9
The Spartans dropped the opening game of the day 9-6.
Parker Hampton (4-2) took the loss after pitching five innings and recording seven strikeouts.
Yasseel Samboy pitched three innings in relief and added four strikeouts.
Norfolk State totaled 14 hits in the contest, led by
Emmett Jefferson with three hits and two RBIs.
Ryan Hoeft collected three hits and one RBI, while
Hunter Gillespie added two hits and a stolen base.
Stonehill broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Nathan Kearney singled before Jamison Howland reached on a bunt single and advanced to third following an error, allowing the game's first run to score. John Bureau followed with an RBI double to give the Skyhawks a 2-0 lead.
Norfolk State answered in the fifth inning. Gillespie singled and stole second before Jefferson lined an RBI single through the left side to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Spartans tied the game in the sixth inning when
Mason Mompoint doubled to left center and later scored on Hoeft's RBI single down the right-field line.
Stonehill responded with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the lead to 8-3. Bureau delivered an RBI single, while the Skyhawks capitalized on a wild pitch and an error during the inning.
Norfolk State mounted a late rally in the ninth inning. Jefferson singled and
Jaydan Israel walked before
Justin Journette blasted a three-run homer to left center, before Stonehill secured the win.
GAME 2: NORFOLK STATE 15, STONEHILL 4 (7)
The Spartans earned a 15-4 victory in seven innings in the second game of the day.
Donovan Whitfield (1-3) earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings in relief and recording one strikeout.
Walker Fuller started on the mound for Norfolk State, while
Tyler Mitchell also pitched in relief.
Norfolk State totaled 16 hits in the contest, led by
Justin Journette with five hits, three RBIs, and a three-run homer.
Brendan Burke added two hits, including a three-run home run, while driving in four runs.
Cameron Mazell collected two hits and two RBIs, and
Thomas Ealey scored three runs.
Journette also surpassed Ronnie Nacisse (1985) and Mel Wearing (1989) for the program's single-season all-time home run record with his 18th homer of the season.
The Spartans struck first in the opening inning.
Jaydan Israel walked before
Thomas Ealey and Journette delivered back-to-back singles. Mazell followed with a two-run single to left field, giving Norfolk State a 2-0 lead.
Norfolk State added four runs in the third inning. Journette singled and Mazell reached with a base hit before Burke launched a three-run homer to right field. Later in the inning,
Sean Stewart doubled to left center to score
Emmett Jefferson and extend the advantage to 6-0.
The Spartans broke the game open in the fourth inning with five more runs.
Josiah Harrison drove in a run with a single before Burke grounded out to score another run.
Hunter Gillespie and Jefferson each added RBI singles, while Israel produced an RBI fielder's choice to give Norfolk State an 11-0 lead.
Stonehill responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Nathan Kearney opened the frame with a solo home run before the Skyhawks capitalized on a stolen base, a wild pitch, and RBI singles from Brayden Rader and Will Newton to cut the deficit to 11-4.
Norfolk State answered immediately in the sixth inning. Israel walked and Ealey singled before Journette blasted a three-run homer to center field, extending the Spartans' lead to 14-4.
The Spartans added one final run in the seventh inning when Jefferson lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Harrison for the game's final run.
SEASON NOTES
- The win in the second game marked Norfolk State's first 20-win season since 2021
- The Spartans improved by 16 wins from the 2025 season
- Journette surpassed 50 career home runs and became the program's all-time single-season home run leader with 18
- Three Spartans finished the season batting above .300: Ealey (.370), Journette (.332), and Harrison (.307)
- M.L. Morgan recorded the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history with 20
- Norfolk State finished with 16 NEC wins, the program's most since joining the conference in 2023
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