Baseball's Rally Falls Short in Series Finale at Norfolk State

The Central Connecticut State baseball team closed out its three-game weekend NEC series on Sunday, falling at Norfolk State, 6-5. The Blue Devils cut a six-run deficit to one run, but were unable to complete the rally.

Frankie Ferrentino and Louis Jordan each had three hits for CCSU in the game.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 5, NORFOLK STATE 6
Pitching Record: W:  Patterson (1-0) | L:  Hines (1-1) | Save: Samboy (2)
Records: CCSU (5-5, 4-2 NEC), NSU (4-14,  2-4 NEC)
Location: Marty Miller Field | Norfolk, VA

KEY MOMENTS

• The 5partans scored one run in each of the opening two frames. In the first, with runners on first and second, Josiah Harrison singled in a run to make it 1-0. After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second, NSU put a runner on third with just one out. Hunter Gillespie would hit a sacrifice fly to plate the run and make it 2-0.
• Central would load the bases with one out for the second straight inning in the top of the third. The Spartans got out of the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
• Norfolk State put a pair of runners on with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Jayden Israel hit a homerun to right field to plate three runs and make it 5-0. The inning continued with a single by Thomas Easley, who moved to third on two wild pitches. Following a walk, Easley scored on the third wild pitch of the inning to push the lead to six runs.
• Jordan led off the fifth inning with a double for CCSU. A single by Brandon O'Neill put runners on the corners before an RBI-groundout by Nate Dudeck drove in Central's first run. Chris Barkasy followed with an RBI-single to make it 6-2.
• Gianno Merlonghi led off the sixth inning with a single and would steal second with one out. He moved to third on a single by Ferrentino before scoring on a single by Jordan. A wild pitch allowed Ferrentino to score and make it 6-4.
• Antonio Ducatelli doubled with one out in the eighth inning before moving to third on a fly ball. Another wild pitch would allow him to score and make it 6-5.

NOTES

• Jordan had three hits, including two doubles, for the second straight game. He drove in one run.
• Ferrentino collected three hits and a run scored.
• Barkasy finished with two hits.
• Bryce Meder and Zach Worzel combined to toss 4.0 innings of shutout relief. They allowed just three hits and struck out three.
• The teams threw a combined eight wild pitches, four by each.
• CCSU leads the all-time series, 8-4.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils host Quinnipiac on Tuesday afternoon.

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