March 6, 2006

Final Stats

NORFOLK, Va.--John Boyd went 2-for-4, including the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, to give Norfolk State a 3-2 win over defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Marist on Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

NSU improves to 7-10 on the season, while the Red Foxes fall to 2-4.

Moriba George led off the bottom of the ninth with a double off Tom Close, the fourth Marist pitcher of the game. One out later, Boyd lined a 2-1 pitch into left field, and George scored well ahead of the throw from outfielder Max Most.

T.J. Starkey earned the win in relief, pitching two scoreless innings for his first decision of the year. Starkey allowed one hit and struck out three.

Close (0-1) took the loss for Marist, allowing the final two hits in one-third of an inning.

The game began as a pitcher's duel between Marist lefthander Jonathan Smith and NSU righthander Joey Seal, but neither factored into the decision.

Smith allowed four hits and two runs, one earned, with one walk and two strikeouts over five innings. Seal had his finest start of the season, allowing just two unearned runs and three hits in seven innings. He walked three and fanned five.

The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Boyd led off with a single, and Chris Dorney doubled Boyd to third. Ryan Reddick knocked in Boyd with a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Dorney scored from third when Marist third baseman Pat Feeney's throw pulled first baseman Bryan Towler off the bag, allowing Ernie Banks to reach safely.

After failing to get a hit in the first four innings, Marist got on the board in the fifth. Justin Lepore was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball. Most followed with an RBI single. The Red Foxes tied it at 2-all in the seventh when Most, who reached on a fielder's choice, stole third and scored on a throwing error by Boyd.