VERO BEACH, Fla.- The Norwich Baseball team rounded out their spring break trip to Florida with a doubleheader split Friday afternoon behind a thunderous offensive effort in the opener.

After a scoreless top of the first, the Cadets jumped out to an early advantage in the home half of the frame. The first two batters reached base with Dillan Garza (San Antonio, Texas) drawing a walk, and a single for Geffen Franus (Leesburg, Va.). After back-to-back strikeouts, Trevor Lussier (Lyndonville, Vt.) drove both runners home with a double to center field to put Norwich ahead. They added another one in the second. Jakob Hayes (Arlington, Texas) got things started by shooting the left-center field gap for a one-out double. A Jon Ringer (Cupertino, Calif.) infield single put runners on the corners for Garza whose squeeze attempt brought home Hayes in what turned into a bunt single for an RBI.

The Comets got on the scoreboard in the top of the third, but the Cadets answered with a four-run inning. With one down, Lussier, Jack Medhurst (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), and Kyle Tanis (Shelburne, Vt.) reached on three straight base hits, with Tanis's bringing home Lussier. A fourth straight single by Hayes plated Medhurst before Garza scored Tanis. After a Capital pitching change, Franus singled home Hayes to cap off the inning.

Capital drew within one with a five-run fifth, but Norwich responded with four more runs in their half of the frame. Tanis and Hayes got into scoring position before both were brought home on a two-RBI single by Garza. A base knock by Brock Carpenter (East Berlin, Pa.) placed runners on the corners, where Garza came home on a wild pitch. Later in the at-bat, John O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) drove in Carpenter with an infield single, capping off the scoring in game one.

On the mound, Ryan Miller (Westhampton, N.Y.) struck out six batters through four and two-thirds innings, earning his second win of the season. Isaac Parker (Jay, Maine) finished off the game only allowing one hit and two free passes in two and a third innings, earning the save. An explosive day at the plate led to stellar offensive stat lines for Garza (3-3, 2 Runs, 4 RBI), Franus (2-4, Run, RBI), Lussier (3-4, Run, 2 RBI), Tanis (2-4, 2 Runs), and Hayes (3-4, 3 Runs, RBI).

The second contest started as a pitcher's duel, with neither side able to break through until Norwich did in the top of the third with Lussier bringing home Garza on a sacrifice fly. Through four and two-thirds innings of work on the bump, Carson Rath (Glens Falls, N.Y.) kept the Comets at bay, allowing one run and striking out four. He was lifted with runners on first and second with two out, but Capital would break through with a five-run frame.

Norwich will now return to the north after accumulating four wins in the Sunshine State. Up next, they will travel to Williams College on March 15, first pitch is set for 12 PM.