Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Joey Seal (Newport News, Va.) and Leon Schabacker (Virginia Beach, Va.) each tossed a strong complete game, and Chris Joyce (Chesapeake, Va.) and John Lynch (Newport News, Va.) tallied four hits apiece as Norfolk State swept Chicago State 9-2, 11-0 in the HBCU Baseball Classic at Savannah State’s Tiger Field.

Seal allowed four hits and two runs in a complete game win in game 1, and Schabacker tossed a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts over six innings in game 2.

In game 1, Chicago State took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Josh Appelbaum. But NSU plated four runs in the bottom of the first, two coming on a single by John Boyd III (Hempstead, N.Y.). Anselmo Cantu (Virginia Beach, Va.) also had an RBI single in the inning, and Brad Stephenson (Chesapeake, Va.) earned an RBI with a bases-loaded walk, one of three free passes issued by Cougar starter Robert Vargas (0-1) in the inning.

The Cougars (0-3) got one run back in the second inning as Lucas Grow doubled and scored on an RBI single by Jordan Haas.

But NSU extended its lead to 6-2 in the third on a pair of sacrifice fly balls by Boyd and Joyce. NSU put it away with three more runs in the fourth, two more coming on another base hit off the bat of Boyd, who finished the game with five RBI.

Seal settled down after the second inning, allowing just one hit and no runs over the final five innings. He walked three and struck out four. Boyd (2-for-3) was the only Spartan with a multi-hit game in the opener.

Game 2 was another story, as three Spartans had at least two hits.

NSU got on the board first in the top of the first inning. Moriba George (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) singled and later advanced to third on a single by Chase Bailey (Roanoke, Va.). The two then executed a double steal, with Bailey swiping second and George taking home.

The Spartans plated 10 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to invoke the mercy rule. Cantu laced a two-run single in NSU’s four-run fourth, and Joyce, who was 4-for-4 in the game, delivered a run-scoring single in the fifth.

The Spartans tacked on five more runs in the sixth. Joyce stroked a two-run single, Stephenson scored another with a base hit of his own, and pinch-hitter Brandon Hairston (North Garden, Va.) hit a sacrifice fly in his first collegiate at-bat.

It was more than enough for Schabacker, who recorded his third career shutout. His eight strikeouts are one shy of his career high.

Appelbaum (0-1) took the loss for CSU, allowing 10 hits and six runs, four earned, in five innings.

Stephenson and Bailey each scored four times on the day, while George and Jerrod Farley (Chester, Va.) scored three times each. Joyce had four RBI and Cantu three.

NSU plays its home opener on Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Liberty at Marty L. Miller Field.