FARMVILLE, Va. – Led by a combined seven RBI from the middle-of-the-lineup duo of Alex Mauricio and Roger Hall, Norfolk State built an early nine-run cushion and outlasted Longwood's late charge to come away with a 15-13 win Wednesday evening at Buddy Bolding Stadium.

The MEAC-leading Spartans (23-17, 15-5 MEAC) built as large as a nine-run lead before the end of the second inning and stranded Longwood's tying run on first base en route to their 11th win in their past 14 games.

Mauricio sparked that early outburst with three hits and three RBI in his first three plate appearances, helping Norfolk State score the first nine runs of the game. The two-way No. 2 weekend starter on the mound and cleanup hitter at the plate belted a pair singles, including a two-run single, both in the second inning and added an RBI double in the third on his way to a 4-for-6 night that also included his ninth stolen base of the year.

Hall added a three-run homer in the second inning as part of a four-RBI night in which the Spartans banged out 19 hits and scored 14 of their 15 runs by the fifth inning, outslugging a Longwood offense that got a career-high four RBI from freshman standout Antwaun Tucker and three from cleanup batter Justin Mitchell.

Mauricio's early success at the dish bailed out his older brother, Jonathan Mauricio, whom Longwood (13-30, 5-13 Big South) roughed up for seven runs over his 4.2 innings of work. Jonathan gave up nine walks and labored through 114 pitches before being replaced by reliever Tyler Morgan (1-0) with a 13-5 lead in the fifth inning. Morgan and fellow middle reliever Quenten Thomas stifled the Lancer offense over the next 3.1 frames, scattering just two runs between them before Longwood's late charge in the bottom of the ninth.

Longwood reliever Cody Boydstun helped keep Longwood in the game after Norfolk State's hot start, cooling down the Spartan bats by scattering three runs over a career-high 5.0 innings out of the bullpen. He fanned a career-high eight batters while dishing just one walk, at one point striking out four straight hitters.

Boydstun's work in the middle innings set the stage for Longwood's four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, which featured a two-run double from freshman infielder Nate Blakeney and an RBI single from Brandon Harvell that cut Norfolk State's lead to 15-13. Harvell, who reached base five times with three walks and a pair of singles, represented the tying run but got no further than first base after Norfolk State closer Brian Beard escaped his own jam by inducing a game-ending groundout from Tucker.
 
Longwood drew a season-high 12 walks in the game, led by a career-high four walks coaxed by Carlos Garrido, as the Lancers put together five scoring innings for the second-highest scoring game of the season for a Lancer offense that also pounded out 12 hits. Five Lancers picked up multi-hit games as Tucker, Mitchell, junior shortstop Michael Osinski, Blakeney, and Harvell each had a pair of hits. Every Lancer starter reached base safely at least once and eight of starting nine scored at least one run.
 
On the mound the Lancers put together their second consecutive 10-strikeout game as a staff. Longwood leads the Big South with 413 strikeouts as a team, 27 shy of tying the school record of 440, set in Ryan Mau's first season as head coach in 2015.

The loss precedes Longwood's final non-conference series of the season, which begins with a doubleheader against Lehigh this Saturday, May 6, at Buddy Bolding Stadium. Prior to Sunday's series finale, Longwood will honor its seven-member senior class of Harvell, James Barry, Devin Gould, Alex Lewis, Luke Simpson, Cody Wager, and Tyler Wirsu.

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