Norfolk, Va. (Apr. 22, 2011) --- Norfolk State scored two runs in the last of the eighth inning in a 6-5 win over Delaware State in a MEAC baseball contest at Marty Miller Field today.
The Hornets trailed 4-2 before scoring a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to take the lead. In the seventh, Cameron Cecil produced a run on a sacrifice fly to cut the Spartans' lead to 4-3. The Hornets failed to do more damage when Eddie Sorondo grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In the DSU eighth, Troy Drummond walked and Keith Hernandez was hit by a pitch to give the Hornets runners at first and second with one out. After an infield single by Scott Davis loaded the bases, Ryan Haas followed with a single to score Drummond and Hernandez, and give the Hornets a 5-4 lead. Davis was thrown out at home on the play for the second out of the inning.
Norfolk State answered with two runs off Delaware State reliever Derek Marshallsea in the bottom of the eighth to regain the lead. Chris Warren doubled with one out, and two batters later, TiQuan Griffin tripled him home to tie the game at 5-5. James Taylor followed with a single to score Griffin with the go-ahead run.
In the Delaware State ninth, Sorondo reached base on a Norfolk State error with two outs, but Spartan reliever Richie Salter retired DJ Miller on a grounder to first to end the game. The Hornets left 10 runners on base in the contest.
Salter (2-1) was credited with the win, while Marshallsea (1-4) was tagged with the loss.
Norfolk State opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Hornets scored two runs in the second to pull to within 3-2. Miller knocked in the Hornets' first run on a bases loaded groundout and Hernandez drove in the second run on a bunt single. The Spartans avoided further damage in the inning when Davis popped out and Haas grounded out with the bases loaded.
Davis and Haas had three hits, while Hernandez and Tony Gatto collected two each for the Hornets. Davis upped his average to .437 this season, second best in the MEAC.
Delaware State fell to 18-19 overall and 6-3 in the MEAC. Norfolk State improved to 15-21 and 7-5.
The teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.
