RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — Norfolk State defeated VCU 5-3 on Tuesday afternoon, overcoming a heavy statistical favorite at The Diamond. The Spartans scored three runs in the fifth inning and added two insurance runs in the eighth. VCU plated single runs in the second, fourth and fifth frames.

Norfolk State’s bullpen was dominant, with five relievers combining for six hitless innings. Myles Crocker, Yasseel Samboy, CJ Patterson, Tyler Mitchell and Nyenati Snoh allowed just one unearned run after the third inning. VCU’s Hunter Gotschall provided three scoreless relief innings in the loss.

The Rams outhit the Spartans 10-9 but stranded nine baserunners. Alec Warden drove in a run for VCU. Norfolk State improved to 8-15, while VCU fell to 13-11.