Norfolk State drops twinbill to Longwood

Scott Burkett had three hits and three RBI in the opener, and host Longwood recorded 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap to propel the Lancers to a sweep of a baseball doubleheader with Norfolk State, 7-4 and 11-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Buddy Bolding Stadium.

The Spartans drop to 5-7 with the losses, while Longwood is now 10-5.

The Spartans got off to a strong start in game 1, jumping out to a 3-1 lead after the top of the third inning. Chris Joyce knocked in John Lynch with a fielder’s choice in the first. The Lancers answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. But Joyce then doubled and scored on a two-run home run by Brandon Hairston in the top of the third. It was Hairston’s team-leading third homer of the year.

The Lancers tied the game in the bottom of the third on RBI singles by Burkett and Robby Newman. Dustin Sollars gave LU its first lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, then Burkett gave the Lancers some insurance with a two-run homer in the fifth for a 6-3 Lancers’ lead.

Hairston went 2-for-4 with a double and the home run for the Spartans in the opener.

Justin Bhatti (0-2) took the loss for NSU in the opener, allowing four runs (three earned) with five strikeouts over four innings. Cory Ramsey (1-1) allowed three runs in seven innings to take the win for Longwood.

Game 2 was all Longwood from the start. The Lancers notched five straight singles to start the bottom of the first inning. Newman had the fourth hit, producing an RBI single for the game’s first run. Matt Dickason followed with a two-run single. The Spartans’ defense then let down, committing five errors leading to seven more runs in the frame.

The Spartans managed just one hit in the nightcap, a single by Joyce in the fourth. The senior third baseman has now hit safely in all 12 NSU games this season.

Kyler Morgan (2-0) got the win for LU by pitching 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just the one hit. Raymond Morton (1-2) took the loss, allowing 10 runs, four earned, in just two-thirds of an inning.

Dickason and Brant Jones had two hits and two RBI apiece for the Lancers.