Spartans Defeat Richmond 12-5 for 13th Straight Win
RICHMOND, Va. - Syeed Mahdi and Ryan Kilmon had three hits apiece, and Mahdi and Robbie Hiser both homered to lead Norfolk State to its 13th consecutive win, 12-5, over Richmond on Tuesday afternoon at Pitt Field.
The Spartans (19-10) picked up their first-ever win over Richmond (20-14) in seven tries by outhitting the Spiders, 13-8. NSU scored four runs in the first, four in the fifth and three more in the sixth against their hosts from the Atlantic 10, belting out six extra-base hits on the afternoon.
The Spartans scored all their first-inning runs with two outs. Denathan Dukes was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and scored on a two-out triple to deep center field by Roger Hall. Mahdi followed by smashing a two-run homer, the first of his collegiate career, to left field for a 3-0 NSU lead against UR starter Peter Bayer. Kilmon was the next batter and tripled to right-center before scoring on a Spider error.
Hiser made it 5-0 with a solo homer to lead off the top of the second.
The Spartans cruised from there, with Richmond tacking on three runs in bottom of the ninth to provide the final margin.
Mahdi finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Kilmon was a perfect 3-for-3 and reached base five times. He finished a homer shy of the cycle.
Hall batted 2-for-6 with two runs scored, and Hiser drove in two runs. Bruno went 1-for-1, walked four times and scored twice.
Jeff Di Fulgo (1-0) earned his first win of the season by working four strong innings out of the bullpen. He allowed four hits and one run. Michael Parmentier started the contest and allowed just one unearned run in two innings.
The Spartans entered the day tied with Alabama State for the second-longest winning streak in the nation at 12 in a row. Only Illinois (13 straight) had a longer streak entering the day. Both Illinois and Alabama State play later Tuesday evening.
The Spartans return to MEAC play with a three-game series at UMES on Saturday and Sunday. NSU can wrap up the No. 1 seed from the MEAC Northern Division this weekend.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
La Salle too much for Hornets
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle pounded out 19 hits, including three home runs, in a 13-4 victory over Delaware State in a non-conference game at Hank DeVincent Field.
The Explorers defeated DSU for the second time this season to improve 18-19-1, while the Hornets fell to 9-25.
Cameron Johnson was 4-for-6 with a homer and three runs batted in to lead La Salle’s offensive attack. Joey Ravert had two hits and three RBI, while teammates Travis George and Michael Flax drove in two runs each. Ravert and George also had round-trippers in the contest.
Justin Allen had two of DSU’s five hits, including a triple, and a RBI.
Travis Dill (0-2) allowed seven hits and three runs in three innings to take the loss. La Salle starter Jordan Meyer (2-3) was the winning pitcher. Meyer gave up a run on two hits, while striking out six in five innings.
The Hornets return to MEAC action with a three-game series at Coppin State this weekend. The series begins with a noon doubleheader on Sat. (Apr. 25) at Joe Cannon Stadium in Glen Burnie, Md.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Florida A&M out-hits Auburn in 3-2 loss
AUBURN, Ala. – Florida A&M (14-22, 10-8 MEAC) fell 3-2 to Auburn (26-16, 7-11 SEC) on Tuesday at Plainsman Park. FAMU out-hit the Tigers 11-4 in the loss, but stranded 12 base runners.
Auburn’s Damon Haecker hit his first home-run of the season, a solo-shot on the first pitch of the eighth inning, to give AU the 3-2 win. Alec Wong led the Rattler offense going 3-for-4, while Ryan Kennedy, Michael Birdsong and Jeremy Barlow each had multi-hit performances on the day. The FAMU pitching staff held the Tigers hitless over the first three innings.
Rattler reliever Kenny McDonald (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. The home run came on the first pitch of the inning.
Auburn reliever Jacob Milliman (2-0) picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the eighth inning with one hit, one strikeout and one walk. Justin Camp then came in and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season.
Florida A&M will next face North Carolina Central this weekend in Boston, Mass., for a crucial MEAC Southern Division matchup. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday at Jim Rice Field before the series finale moves to Fenway Park at 2:00 PM on Saturday. Saturday’s game will be televised on the New England Sports Network (NESN).
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Coppin State falls on the road to Georgetown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jeffrey Fitch had Coppin State’s only hit during a 13-0 non-conference baseball defeat to Georgetown at Shirley Povich Field Tuesday afternoon.
Fitch singled in the second inning for his 23rd hit of the season. Coppin State starting pitcher Chris Vasquez allowed one earned run in three solid innings. Also reaching base for the Eagles with walks were Colin Dower, Jack Kraft, Alejandro Hernandez and Randal Mendez.
Coppin State returns to action Wednesday night when it visits UMBC for a 6:00 p.m. at Alumni Field.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
No. 6 Florida slips by Bethune-Cookman
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman’s foray into top-10 baseball began Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss to sixth-ranked Florida before a crowd of 2,446 at McKethan Stadium.
Bethune-Cookman (15-30), who will have a three-game series with fourth-ranked Louisville beginning Friday, tied the game in the eighth when senior Bryant Munoz singled home shortstop Demetrius Sims, who led off the inning with a single.
Florida (32-10) regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Richie Martin scored his second run of the game on a two-out Josh Tobias single. Bobby Poyner worked a scoreless ninth to preserve the Gators win.
B-CU dropped to 15-30 on the season.
Clint Clymer took the loss for B-CU, falling to 0-3, as he tossed the final 2.1 frames, allowing one run and two hits while striking out two.
The win went to the Gators’ Poyner who improved to 3-1.
Offensively, Jameel Edney and Munoz finished the game with a pair of hits apiece to lead the B-CU attack.
Bethune-Cookman looks to rebound Wednesday evening when visiting the University of South Florida in Tampa at 6 p.m. USF took the previous matchup this year against the Wildcats by a count of 1-0 on March 11, in Daytona Beach.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com