NSU Fires On All Cylinders In 21-0 Shutout of Delaware State

DI/MEAC/Baseball

 

NSU Sports Information

 

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State’s offense erupted for its highest output since 2011, and Matt Outman tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Spartans to a convincing 21-0 win over Delaware State in the first game of a three-game set at Marty L. Miller Field.

Norfolk State Media

Shortstop Roger Hall led the offensive onslaught with a 4-for-4 day which included a career-best six runs batted in. Denathan Dukes also registered a career-high four hits and Kyle Vaas hit a two-run homer to lead the Spartans, who registered their most runs scored since a 21-14 win over Longwood on May 13, 2011. NSU’s 22 hits on Friday matched that Longwood game for the most by a Spartan squad the last four seasons.

The 21-0 triumph is also NSU’s largest-ever shutout win, topping a 20-0 victory over the University of the District of Columbia on March 28, 1982.

NSU batted around in both the second and third innings and scored all 21 of its runs in the first four frames. The game was shortened to seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

Hall got NSU on the board with an RBI single in the first before the Spartans exploded in the second off DSU starter Terry Godfrey (1-2). The Spartans posted nine hits and took advantage of three Hornet errors in the inning, sending 14 men to the plate. Hall stroked a three-run triple and Vaas doubled off the wall in right-center to score another run. Robbie Hiser also hit an RBI double in the inning, and Andre’ Moore hit a pair of run-scoring singles to send NSU to an 11-0 lead after just two innings.

The Spartans weren’t done, tacking on six more in the third. Vaas drilled a two-run homer over the wall in right field, his first homer of the season. Ryan Kilmon drove in a run with a long RBI double, and both Dukes and Hall hit run-scoring singles.

NSU added four more in the fourth, with Dukes notching another RBI single and Hall hitting a sacrifice fly.

That was more than enough for Outman, who improved to 4-1 on the year with his first complete game and shutout of the year. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just three hits to go with five walks.

All nine Spartan starters had at least one hit and eight had at least two. Dukes finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two batted in. Hiser and Moore both went 2-for-3, while Kilmon, Vaas and Angel Rosario went 2-for-4 and Syeed Mahdi 2-for-5. Vaas drove in three runs, while Kilmon, Moore, Dukes and Rosario had two RBI apiece.

The teams play a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday.