Brittney Ruark tossed a two-hit shutout and Aisha Holloman smacked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to lift Delaware State to a 3-0 win over Norfolk State, and give the Hornets their first MEAC Softball Championship this afternoon in Ormond Beach, Fla.

Delaware State completed a four-game tournament sweep to capture the 2008 MEAC title and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

Photo by Sideline Sports

“This is such a thrill for the team and the university,” said Delaware State’s Jeff Savage, who was named Most Outstanding Tournament Coach. “We had an up-and-down regular season, but things really came together during the tournament. Our pitching was great and we got timely hits all weekend. These girls worked so hard to reach this point, and I am so proud of them.”

In the title clinching contest, Ruark allowed just two sixth inning singles. She struck out eight and walked three. Ruark was the winning pitcher in all four tournament wins to improve to 15-10 on the season.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Holloman delivered her big blow. Andrea Waters singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a one-out single by Sha Tabor. Two batters later, Holloman blasted a shot over the fence in right center to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.

Holloman was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament. She was 4-for-12 with six RBI in four games.

Delaware State ran into trouble in the top of the sixth when Norfolk State put its first three batters on base. Ruark struck out the next three batters, Jeanette Sauceda Rebecca Barnes and Micki Rodriguez, to end the threat.

In the seventh, Ruark retired the first two batters before getting Meghan Ramsey to ground out to shortstop to touch off the championship celebration.

Ruark joined Holloman on the All-Tournament Team. She struck out 19 batters, while allowing just six runs and 16 hits in 26 tournament innings (2.07 ERA).


The 2008 MEAC Softball All- Tournament Team is listed below

2008 All-Tournament Team:

Ky Brown, Norfolk State
Melissa Oliphant, Florida A&M
Aisha Holloman, Delaware State
Brittany Ruark, Delaware State
Megan Johnson, Morgan State
Brianna Guiterrez, Howard
Holly Bussey, Bethune-Cookman
Rebecca Barnes, Norfolk State
Brianeisha Eure, Norfolk State
Brittany Davis, Hampton
Kristina Cordova, Howard


2008 Runner-Up Team, Norfolk State University, coached by Kary Kankey

Outstanding Performer: Aisha Holloman, Delaware State

Outstanding Coach: Jeff Savage, Delaware State

For complete MEAC Softball Championship coverage, log on to MEACSPORTS.com.

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