3-Run 6th Carries NSU Spartan Baseball Past Richmond, 7-4

NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State manufactured three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break open a tie game and pull away for a 7-4 win over Richmond on Wednesday night in the Spartans' final home game of the season at Marty L. Miller Field.

NSU (24-18), which trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning, tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth and overtook the Spiders (23-19) in the sixth. The win was NSU's second in a row over Richmond.

The Spartans scored in the first inning as Denathan Dukes led off with a single, stole second and later scored on a groundout by Brian Beard.

Richmond took the lead with two runs in the top of the third. Michael Morman doubled in Trey Beckwith and scored on a two-out balk. The Spiders added another run in the fourth on Aaron Newman's RBI single, putting the Spiders in front 3-1.

But NSU rallied in the middle innings. In the fifth, Tony Leite's base hit scored Angel Rosario, who singled to lead off the frame. Roger Hall, who drew one of his four walks earlier in the inning, scored the tying run from third when Leite stole second base and the catcher's throw to second sailed into center field.

The Spartans pieced together a three-run rally in the sixth. The only hit was Dukes' lead-off bunt single. Dukes scored on a wild pitch by UR reliever Jacob Lamb. Hall, who drew another walk earlier in the inning, scored on a two-out catcher's interference miscue against UR. Ismael Herrera coaxed a bases-loaded walk from Spider reliever Peter Bovenzi to cap the rally and give the Spartans a 6-3 lead.

UR got a run back in the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Kyle Adams. But Spartan reliever Alex Mauricio struck out Kurtis Brown with two runners on to help the Spartans maintain a 6-4 lead.

NSU stretched its lead back to three, at 7-4, in the eighth. Mauricio walked, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single by Chase Anderson.

Mauricio finished it off on the mound, working a scoreless ninth. With two runners on and two outs, Mauricio walked Brown. The fourth ball of the at-bat got away from Spartan catcher Herrera, but D.J. Lee was tagged out at home for the final out of the game trying to score on the wild pitch.

The save was the fourth of the year for Mauricio, who pitched the final 2.1 innings without allowing a run. He struck out two. Anderson (4-2), who began the game playing third base, got the win with 1.2 innings of relief and two strikeouts.

Spartan righty Michael Parmentier got the start and took a no-decision. He struck out seven batters, matching a career high, and allowed three runs over five innings.

Beard went 2-for-5 with an RBI for NSU. Both Dukes and Hall scored two runs apiece. Mauricio went 1-for-1, drew three of the Spartans' 10 walks and stole two bases in addition to his save on the mound.

Adams went 3-for-5 to pace the Spiders, who outhit NSU 12-7.

NSU hits the road for its final MEAC series of the season this Saturday and Sunday at Coppin State.

Box Score

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS