NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team closes its 2026 regular season on the road this week, facing VMI on Tuesday, May 12, before opening a three-game series at Stonehill on Thursday, May 14.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Tuesday, May 12 – 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 – 3 p.m.
Friday, May 15 – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 – 1 p.m.
Tuesday's game will stream live on ESPN+, while the weekend series will stream on NEC Front Row. Fans can also follow live stats through links on the NSU Athletics website or by following the Spartans' baseball X account.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State enters the week 19-28 overall and 15-15 in Northeast Conference play. The Spartans went 1-3 last week, opening with a 14-3 loss to VCU before dropping two of three games against Fairleigh Dickinson (8-6, 8-10, 8-11).
Thomas Ealey leads the Spartans at the plate with a .384 batting average, 71 hits, 46 runs scored, 17 RBIs, four doubles and three triples. He also ranks ninth nationally with 35 stolen bases.
Justin Journette ranks second on the team with a .325 batting average while totaling 55 hits, 54 RBIs, 46 runs scored and 16 home runs. He sits one home run shy of tying the Norfolk State single-season record set by Ronnie Narisse in 1985 and matched by Mel Waring in 1989. Journette broke his own Division I single-season home run record last weekend against FDU.
Ethan Blakeney (5-4) leads Norfolk State's starting pitchers with a 4.94 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Parker Hampton (4-1) owns a 5.26 ERA with 39 strikeouts.
Yasseel Samboy (5-1) leads the bullpen with a 3.96 ERA, 38 strikeouts and five saves.
ABOUT THE KEYDETS
VMI enters Tuesday's matchup 27-23 overall and 3-15 in Southern Conference play. The Keydets dropped all three games against Mercer last weekend (2-13, 2-5, 1-11).
Cole Raile leads VMI with a .344 batting average, 62 hits, 50 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, 14 home runs and 10 doubles. Grayson Fitzwater ranks second on the team with a .320 average and leads the Keydets with 20 home runs. Owen Prince owns a .314 batting average and leads the team with 28 stolen bases.
Hunter Sipe (5-3) has made 27 appearances this season, posting a 3.30 ERA with 58 strikeouts and two saves. Clark Driscoll (3-3) owns a 3.76 ERA with 27 strikeouts, while Trace Monroe (4-0) carries a 3.82 ERA with 28 strikeouts.
ABOUT THE SKYHAWKS
Stonehill enters the week 19-26 overall and 15-12 in NEC play. The Skyhawks lost three straight games to LIU last weekend (5-6, 2-5, 3-7). Stonehill travels to Bryant on Tuesday before hosting Norfolk State.
Nathan Kearney leads the Skyhawks with a .361 batting average, 57 hits, 42 RBIs, 33 runs scored and eight doubles. Michael Rickert owns a .328 batting average and leads the team with six home runs. Sam Parks carries a .311 average and leads Stonehill with 47 runs scored.
Jimmy Gilleran (3-0) leads the Skyhawks' pitching staff with a 4.83 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Ryan Douglas (4-4) ranks second among Stonehill starters with a 4.97 ERA and 38 strikeouts. Jake Lanzer (1-0) has made 18 relief appearances with a 3.77 ERA and 26 strikeouts, while Alex Cook (1-4) has posted a 3.86 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 20 appearances.
SERIES HISTORY
Norfolk State owns a 2-29 all-time record against VMI in a series that dates back to 2001. The Keydets defeated the Spartans twice earlier this season by scores of 15-10 and 8-4. Norfolk State seeks its first win against VMI since 2024.
The Spartans hold a 4-5 all-time record against Stonehill in a series that began in 2023. The Skyhawks swept Norfolk State last season (11-7, 9-7, 23-8). The Spartans seek their first win in the series since 2024.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
