NORFOLK, Va. – After coming oh-so-close to no-hitters in his each of his last two starts, Norfolk State sophomore left hander Devin Hemmerich achieved the elusive feat Sunday in a 6-1 victory over Coppin State.
Hemmerich (4-3) threw the program’s first no-hitter in the Division I era and fifth in school history to help the Spartans (23-13, 19-5 MEAC North) end their conference schedule in style. The Spartans’ last no-hitter came on March 12, 1996, when John Coles went five innings and Matthew Hemmis combined to blank St. Paul’s in a 39-0, six-inning win.
Hemmerich walked the game’s lead-off hitter, Colin Dower, who then stole second. Dower took third on a groundout and alertly took off for home when the NSU defense turned its back on him following the putout at first. Dower slid in safely ahead of the throw home to get the Eagles on the board.
CSU’s only other baserunners came on a fourth-inning error by the Spartan infield, and when Dower was hit by a Hemmerich pitch in the sixth. Hemmerich recorded two strikeouts in a perfect 1-2-3 seventh, fanning George Dragon swinging to finish off the no-hitter. The strikeout was Hemmerich’s 10th of the game, matching his career high.
Sunday was Hemmerich’s MEAC-leading fifth complete game of the season. Two weeks ago, he pitched a two-hit shutout against CSU where both hits were infield singles.
Last week, he went 6.2 innings in a seven-inning game without allowing a hit before UMES managed a triple and won the game 1-0.
In the nightcap Sunday, Stephen Butt (4-1) earned the win in game two, allowing one run and three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out three while lowering his season ERA to 2.17.
Jeff Di Fulgo, Lane Ward, Jonathan Mauricio and Corey Haynes each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Mikey Bruno, Troy Applin and Omar Hotusing had two hits apiece in the nightcap. Rosario finished the doubleheader 3-for-6 with three RBI, while Hall added three hits and two RBI on the day.
MEAC Media Relations
