Hornets Complete Season Sweep Of Norfolk State
Dover, Del. (Apr. 8, 2012) --- Delaware State scored in all but one inning in an 11-1 win over Norfolk State in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field this afternoon. The game was called after the Hornets scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule.
DSU completed a six-game season sweep of the Spartans to improve to 18-13-1 overall. The Hornets lead the MEAC North with an 8-1 mark. Norfolk State dropped its seventh straight game to fall to 8-19 and 5-6 in MEAC play.
Tony Gatto drove in three runs, while Cameron Cecil, Ryan Haas and JP Frey had two hits each to lead the Hornets' 12-hit attack. DSU also scored two runs on Norfolk State errors and another on a wild pitch.
Norfolk State scored first with a run in the top of the second inning. The Hornets answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Haas doubled to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Eddie Sorondo, Frey singled up the middle to score Haas with the tying run.
DSU scored five times in the third to pull ahead. Cecil was hit by a pitch with one out to begin the rally. He moved to third on a single by Haas, and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Aaron Nardone was walked with the bases loaded and Gatto followed with a two-run single to stretch Delaware State's lead to 5-1. Joey Babuca put the Hornets ahead 6-1 when he executed a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Nardone with the final run of the inning.
Sorondo singled in a run in the fourth and Scott Davis had a run-scoring double in the fifth to stretch DSU's lead to 8-1.
The Hornets opened up a 10-1 lead with two runs in the sixth. Sorondo was walked to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Frey and reached third on a Nardone single. Nardone stole second and Sorondo scored on an error by Norfolk State catcher Chris Warren on the throw to second. DSU scored its second run in the sixth when Gatto drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly.
Delaware State ended the game with a run in the seventh. Davis drew a one out walk and moved to second when Cecil was hit by a pitch. Haas followed with a sharp grounder to first. Norfolk State first baseman Ross Cardwell fielded the ball, but his throw to second was wild, allowing Davis to score the game ending run.
Starter Zach Adkins (3-1) threw six innings to pick up the win for the Hornets. He allowed three hits and one run, while striking out three.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Lancers Use Long Ball To Take Series From Eagles
DURHAM, N.C. -In the rubber match finale on Sunday afternoon, Longwood University went deep six times, racking up runs in all but three innings of the contest as the Lancers clinched the weekend series with a 23-8 victory over the Eagles at the Durham Athletic Park.
The win clinches the season series for LU, as the Lancers finished the 2012 campaign 3-2 against the Eagles. Longwood leads the all-time series 9-2 over the maroon and gray.
Despite the loss, Luis Diaz led the Eagle attacked with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate that included a double and four runs scored. Carter Williamson went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored to give him 25 RBI on the season, which is tops on the team.
Ruben Rios (1-2) took the loss for the Eagles, while Ryan Schubert (3-1) earned the victory for the Lancers (17-16).
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Florida A&M Defeats North Carolina A&T, 7-5
GREENSBORO-The North Carolina A&T baseball team got the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but was not able to complete the come-from-behind win on Sunday against Florida A&M at War Memorial Stadium in a 7-5 loss, ending their winning streak at five games.
The Aggies (12-19, 6-6 MEAC) had a slow start on Sunday, and did not collect their first hit until the fifth inning. But once the A&T offense woke up, it started to put pressure on the Rattlers (6-30, 4-8 MEAC). The Aggies scored four of their five runs in the last two innings of the contest, and nearly came back to win the game.
A&T starter LHP Brent Moore allowed four earned runs in 5.0 innings. Freshman reliever Joe Mackey allowed two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings.
The Rattlers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Centerfielder Jared Walker led off with a double down the right field line. He took third on a sacrifice bunt by Khiry Hernandez, and scored on a triple to left-center field by Jarryd Reid. Cory Franklin then hit the ball to shortstop, and reached on a throwing error by A&T infielder Michael Radford. Reid scored on the play from third. Franklin came around to score on an RBI double by Dylan West. After a rough first inning, Moore settled down and helped strand six FAMU runners in the next three innings. FAMU added another pair of runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead.
FAMU starter Heath Blackburn who picked up his second win on Sunday, gave up his first hit in the fifth inning. A&T third baseman Luke Tendler started the inning with a double to center field. He took third as catcher Stefan Jordan singled. An RBI single by freshman DH Brandon Wilkerson brought home Tendler and snapped the shutout to make it a 5-1 game.
FAMU scored two more runs in the eighth inning off Mackey to make it a 7-1 contest. With two out, Reid singled to left field. Franklin then hit a single to deep shortstop. Both runners scored on a two RBI double by West. Mackey got Michael Birdsong to fly out to get out of the jam.
The Aggies answered back by scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Shortstop Radford walked to start the inning. He advanced to second as left fielder Andre McKoy hit into a 5-3 groundout. After Dairio Little popped up to second, second baseman Marquis Riley singled to right field to bring home Radford. First baseman Kelvin Freeman then singled to put two runners on with two out for Tendler. Tendler slammed a two-RBI triple to right field to make it a 7-4 game.
After Mackey retired the Rattlers in order in the ninth, the Aggies worked to complete the comeback. Centerfielder Carvell Copeland took first after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. Radford next walked to put two on. Dairio Little hit an RBI single to left field to bring home Copeland and bring the Aggies within two at 7-5. Riley was then hit with a pitch, to load the bases with one out. Freeman struck out swinging, and Tendler flied out to centerfield to end the game and the rally.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com or www.famuathletics.com