Spartans sweep Eagles in twinbill
HANOVER, Md. - The Norfolk State baseball team extended its own school Division I-era record winning streak to 11 games on Saturday with two more convincing wins, sweeping a doubleheader from Coppin State 21-3 and 8-0 at Joe Cannon Stadium.
Outfielder Syeed Mahdi had four hits and four RBI in Saturday's doubleheader sweep, while first baseman Ryan Kilmon homered in game two and also knocked in four runs on the day. Troy Applin added his first career homer in the opener, while the Spartans (17-10, 14-3 MEAC North) got two more solid outings from left handed pitchers Matt Outman (6-1) and Devin Hemmerich (3-2). Hemmerich threw a two-hit shutout, the first of his career, in the nightcap.
Outman won his fifth straight start. He allowed six hits and three runs with four strikeouts in five innings. Jonathan Mauricio and Matt Boone each pitched a scoreless inning to finish off game one.
Mahdi drove in a career high four runs in the opener and doubled twice. Kilmon also had two doubles and two RBI as the Spartans registered a season-high eight two-baggers in the game. Six Spartans had two hits and seven had at least two RBI in the opener.
Mahdi added two more hits and scored twice in the nightcap, while Kilmon blasted his first homer as a Spartan. They gave more than enough support to Hemmerich, who came within shouting distance of a no-hitter. Hemmerich surrendered just a pair of infield singles, both to Kraft, over a seven-inning, complete-game shutout.
Hemmerich cruised in his third complete game of the season. Kraft hit slow rollers to second base in the second and seventh innings and beat out both for a pair of infield hits off Hemmerich. The Eagles hit just three balls out of the infield against Hemmerich, who walked one, struck out eight and induced seven ground-ball outs.
Mahdi and Herrera each had two hits in the nightcap. Mahdi was the only Spartan with four hits on the day, but Kilmon, Hiser and Herrera had three hits apiece. Herrera added four RBI on Saturday.
The teams cap their three-game set with a noon game on Sunday.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
Hornets frustrated by Hawks in Doubleheader defeat
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. --- The Delaware State baseball team continued its struggles against UMES this season, falling to the Hawks 11-3 and 6-5 in a MEAC North doubleheader this afternoon. The Hornets have dropped all five meetings with UMES this season.
In the opener, catcher Justin Dattilo drove in four runs and second baseball Mike Escanilla was four-for-four with five runs scored to lead the Hawks.
UMES starter Jesse Stinnett (4-5) defeated the Hornets for the second time this season. Stinnett allowed six hits and two runs, while striking out four and walking two in seven innings.
Jaylen Zielecki smacked a solo homer and Ron Farley drove in two runs for the Hornets.
DSU starter Lane DeLeon (3-4) allowed nine hits and nine runs, although just two were earned, in six innings to take the loss.
In the nightcap, UMES scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the seven-inning contest.
Gabe Rivera (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the Hornets, while UMES reliever Toby Hoskins (2-2) was the winning pitcher.
Cameron Onderko, David Kimbrough and Gonzalez had two hits each for the Hornets in the nightcap.
DSU in now 8-24 overall and 7-10 in the MEAC, while UMES improved to 13-23 and 11-6.
The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Princess Anne, Md.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.umeshawks.com
Eagles split doubleheader with Tigers
DURHAM, N.C. – Ronald Thompson boosted North Carolina Central University into first place of the Southern Division of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after a walk off 2-run blast to the roof of the warehouse in right field to lift the Eagles over Savannah State 7-5 in the 10th inning in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, April 18 at the Durham Athletic Park. The Tigers fought back to split the afternoon doubleheader with a 7-2 win over NCCU in game two.
In the bottom of the 10th, Carlos Ortiz started the frame with a double and Thompson came up next and planted one on top of the warehouse for a walk off home run to take game one and move the Eagles into first place of the Southern Division after Bethune-Cookman was beaten by North Carolina A&T State.
NCCU kept the momentum rolling in game two loading the bases before James Dey picked up an RBI by forcing a run home on a walk to lead 1-0 in the first. That was all the Eagles would get, as they left the bases full in the bottom of the first.
All three runs for SSU in the fourth came with two outs as a man reached on a fielding error and then a single put two men on for Mendez Elder. Elder hit his second of double of the game, this time clearing the bases for 2 RBI. Charles Sikes followed with an RBI Single of his own to put the Tigers on top 5-2 through four innings.
Alex Dandridge pitched three and two-thirds of an inning, seeing five runs touch home but was only two of those runs were earned.
SSU tacked on two more runs before the end of the game, an RBI single from pinch hitter Devin Jackson (Columbus, Ga.) in the fifth inning, and a solo homer from Sikes, his second of the day in the sixth to finish the scoring with SSU in front 7-2.
Even though the Eagles dropped the second game of the doubleheader, they remained in first place after B-CU lost both games of the doubleheader with N.C. A&T State.
NCCU will look to pad its position at the top of the division as they finish the series with SSU at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, April 19 at the Durham Athletic Park. The game, originally scheduled for 1:00 p.m. was moved up due to forecasted inclement weather.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssuathletics.com