Liberty Uses Long Ball to Down NSU

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Liberty scored all but one of its runs on the long ball as the Flames swept the Norfolk State softball team, 9-0, 7-1, Wednesday afternoon at the Liberty Softball Field.

Liberty's Kelly Strickland belted a pair of home runs and had six RBI in Game 1, while Katrina Johnson and Grace Nordan combined to no-hit the Spartans in five innings. In Game 2, Johnson and Alyssa DiMartino allowed just one run on four hits in seven innings, and the Flames hit three more homers to highlight their offensive outburst.

Liberty improved to 22-18 on the season, while NSU fell to 10-23 overall this year. The Flames hit seven homers all-together in the doubleheader. Johnson (11-5) picked up the win in the first game, and DiMartino (3-3) earned the victory in the second game.

Junior Casey Pomeroy (5-8) suffered the loss in Game 1, allowing three runs on three hits while getting just one out in the first inning. Freshman Jamie Schulle (2-9) gave up all seven runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings in Game 2. Junior Danielle Wright had a pair of hits in the nightcap.

Strickland hit a two-run home run in the first inning of the first game, then added a grand slam the very next inning. Ashley Bensinger followed up Strickland's homer with a solo shot as the Flames took a 7-0 lead after two innings, and after relief pitcher Elizabeth Castaneda pitched a scoreless third and fourth innings, Meredith Crisante hit one over the center field fence in the bottom of the fifth with no outs to end the game.

Freshman Melina Valles hit an RBI groundout to third to score Wright in the top of the first in the later game, but a solo shot by Crisante in the bottom of the second and another run in the third put Liberty on top, 2-1. Bensinger's three-run shot to left center in the fourth broke open the game, and Nordan's two-run homer an inning later capped the scoring for the Flames.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

Coppin State Splits Doubleheader with Delaware State

DOVER, Del. -- Erica Washington scored the winning run on a throwing error in the eighth inning lifting Coppin State to a 1-0 victory over Delaware State and a split of MEAC games on Wednesday at the Hornet's Nest.

Using the international tie-breaker rules, Washington was placed on second base to start the eighth inning.

Patrice Williams laid down a bunt and was thrown out at first base. Washington advanced to third and scampered home with the winning run when the first baseman tried to throw her out at third base.

Paige Arnold then retired the Hornets in the bottom of the inning, including striking out the final two batters, to put a halt to the Eagles 28-game losing streak against Delaware State. It marked CSU's first win over Delaware State since the 2004 season.

The Eagles had only one hit in the second game, but Arnold made it stand up as she scattered 11 hits and struck out four batters to earn the victory.

Delaware State won the first game 1-0 on a game-winning single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

All three games in the series were decided by a 1-0 final score.

For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.dsuhornets.com

Stetson Lids Lady Rattlers, 3-1

DeLAND, Fla. (April 20)-Florida A&M dropped a 3-1 decision to Stetson in game one and was leading 3-2 in game two as it was called due to lighting, Wednesday afternoon at  Patricia Wilson Field.

FAMU (22-21) tallied two hits, while Stetson (19-25) collected eight on the day.

Jasmin Donaldson and Francesca Singletary led the Lady Rattlers from the plate as they both finished with one hit each, while Chelsey Trotto and Rachel Lowe led the Hatters from the plate with two hits each.

Meredith Owens (7-11) picked the win for the Stetson as she went the distance allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out two in seven innings, while Jennifer Lindsey (8-10) received the loss for FAMU as she gave up eight hits, three earned runs and striking out two in six innings.

SU grabbed the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Chelsea Whalley homered to right field.

Donaldson tied the game at 1-1 as she scored on a Singletary double to center field in the top of the fourth inning.

The Hatters scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 3-1 win as Trotto scored on a wild pitch.  Then Jordan Cleghorn would score on a Lowe single to the shortstop.

For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com