NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State baseball team will close its home portion of the 2026 season this week, hosting VCU on Tuesday, May 5 at 3 p.m. before welcoming Northeast Conference-leading Fairleigh Dickinson for a three-game series beginning Friday, May 8 at 3 p.m.
 
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Tuesday, May 5 – 3 p.m.
Friday, May 8 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 – 12 p.m. (Senior Day)
 
Fans can follow all games via live stats on the Norfolk State athletics website or by following the NSU Baseball account on X.

SENIOR DAY 
On Sunday, May 10, the Spartans will celebrate their seniors prior to first pitch. The 11 seniors recognized at the event are as follows: Brendan Burke, Brayden Daulton, Walker Fuller, Jaydan Israel, Emmett Jefferson, Justin Journette, Cameron Mazell, Tyler Mitchell, CJ Patterson, Sean Stewart, and Mac Yarbrough. 
 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State enters the week with a 16-23 overall record and a 14-13 mark in NEC play. The Spartans sit in sixth place in the conference standings. Norfolk State won two of three games against Maryland Eastern Shore last week (3-9, 15-8, 11-4).
 
Thomas Ealey leads the Spartans with a .371 batting average, totaling 62 hits, 40 runs scored, 32 stolen bases, 15 RBIs, three doubles, and three triples. Justin Journette ranks second with a .323 average and leads the team with 14 home runs. Jaydan Israel (.301) and Josiah Harrison (.300) rank third and fourth on the team in batting average.
 
Parker Hampton (4-1) leads Norfolk State's pitching staff with a 4.98 ERA and 38 strikeouts. Ethan Blakeney (4-4) leads the team with 57 strikeouts while posting a 5.24 ERA. Yasseel Samboy anchors the bullpen with a 3.48 ERA, recording 34 strikeouts and four saves.
 
ABOUT THE RAMS
VCU enters Tuesday's matchup with a 26-21 record. The Rams went 3-1 last week, falling to Old Dominion in midweek action (6-7) before sweeping Saint Louis (12-1, 5-1, 10-7).
 
Jacob Lee leads VCU with a .333 batting average, totaling 58 hits, 47 runs scored, 41 RBIs, 12 doubles, and 12 home runs. Nate Kirkpatrick ranks second with a .312 average, adding 54 hits and 31 RBIs. Michael Petite leads the team with 16 stolen bases, while Nick Flores has 15.
 
Hunter Gotschall (2-2) holds a 5.26 ERA with 29 strikeouts. Fenix DiGiacomo (0-2) owns a 5.06 ERA with 16 strikeouts in seven appearances. Zach Peters (4-1) leads the bullpen with a 1.42 ERA and shares the team lead with 66 strikeouts.
 
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson holds a 29-15-1 overall record and a 22-5 mark in NEC play, leading the conference standings. The Knights went 3-0-1 last week, tying NJIT (11-11) before sweeping Central Connecticut State (14-4, 6-2, 10-2).
 
Johnathan Gomez leads the Knights with a .376 batting average, totaling 70 hits, 72 runs scored, 43 RBIs, 16 doubles, and 10 home runs. Hunter Ray ranks second with a .373 average, adding 26 home runs and 22 stolen bases. Jeremy Delamota (.361), Jimmy Mantuano (.348), and Jeremy Cheesman (.313) also hit above .300.
 
Cheesman (4-3) leads the pitching staff with a 5.53 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Chris Messina (5-0) has 30 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Nick Noble posts a 2.48 ERA with 28 strikeouts out of the bullpen.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Norfolk State holds a 3-23 all-time record against VCU. The Spartans defeated the Rams 5-3 earlier this season in Richmond, Va. VCU has not won in the series since 2023.
 
The Spartans hold a 2-9 all-time record against Fairleigh Dickinson. Norfolk State went 1-2 against the Knights last season (11-7, 4-17, 0-6).
 
ON DECK
Norfolk State will close the 2026 regular season next week with four road games, traveling to VMI on Tuesday, May 12 before opening a three-game series at Stonehill on Thursday, May 14.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X/Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.