VERO BEACH, Fla.- As their spring break trip through the Sunshine State continued, the Norwich Baseball team split their third twin bill of the week against Elizabethtown, a program receiving votes in the D3baseball.com national poll, and a team that defeated reigning National Champion Misericordia in their most recent contest.

The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, but the Cadets answered in the home half. Geffen Franus (Leesburg, Va.) drew a walk and would be granted second base on a balk after a quick pitching change. After John O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, Ryan Miller (Westhampton, N.Y.) was issued another free pass loading the bases. With the bags juiced, Baker Stewart (Leesburg, Va.) drew a second straight walk to bring home Franus. O'Connor and Miller came home on consecutive balks to give Norwich the lead despite not tallying a hit.

Elizabethtown answered in the third, tying the game. However, the maroon and gold answered in the bottom half regaining the lead for good. Franus got the inning started by taking a hit by pitch and swiping second. Eventually, after a walk to Brock Carpenter (East Berlin, Pa.) and an O'Connor single, the bases were loaded for Miller. Miller shot the right-center field gap for a 2 RBI double bringing home Franus and Carpenter to retake the lead.

In the fifth, Norwich tacked on another run with Michael Davide Jr. (Franklin, Mass.) coming home on a wild pitch. Isaac Maldonado (Miami, Fla.) added the exclamation point in the sixth with a leadoff home run, before Franus came home one more time for the 8-3 victory. On the mound, Noah Carpenter (Herkimer, N.Y.) was steady, holding the Blue Jays to three runs in five and a third innings. Isaac Parker (Jay, Maine) nailed down the victory without allowing a hit in the final inning and two-thirds earning his first career save.

In the second game of the twin bill, Elizabethtown jumped ahead in the home half of the second, but Norwich would take the lead. With two down in the frame, Franus reached base and capitalized on an error and a two-base wild pitch to even the score. Miller singled in O'Connor who also capitalized on an error. The Blue Jays took the lead in the fourth inning and never looked back. Norwich had chances to answer but were turned away each time.

The Cadets will resume action on March 6 when they take on Wilkes in a single nine-inning contest starting at 11 AM.