Coppin State Uses Long Ball to Defeat UMBC
BALTIMORE -- Nicole Boggs, Cheyenne Gerber and Melli Richardson all hit home runs and Coppin State rallied to defeat UMBC 13-8 on Friday in the opening round of the UMBC Retriever Classic at the UMBC Softball Field.
The victory marked the first for Coppin State in the all-time series with UMBC as the Retrievers entered the contest having won the previous 15 meetings. Coppin State had five extra base hits and 16 hits overall to snap the losing streak against UMBC.
The Eagles (3-0) trailed 7-4 after two innings, but scored a combined nine runs over the final four innings to remain undefeated on the young season.
Boggs was 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Gerber was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI and Richardson went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Danielle Smith was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI and Heather Josker had three hits in four at-bats for the Eagles.
Taylor Hall was 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead UMBC, while Ashley Scroggin went 4-for-4 with a run batted in.
Richardson picked up the victory for the Eagles as she pitched the final six innings and allowed just two earned runs, while Chelsea Bertoglio absorbed the loss for UMBC.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Savannah State Falls To Mississippi Valley State
IRONDALE, Ala. - The Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State absconded in the sixth inning with four runs to beat Savannah State 5-4 in both teams opening game of the 6th Annual HBCU Softball Classic Tiny Laster Tournament in Irondale, Alabama, Friday evening.
The Lady Tigers are on a three game losing streak after dropping the last two games of the Florida International Tournament last week in Miami, Florida. SSU is 7-8 overall. The Devilettes improved to 4-11.
After a scoreless opening inning, SSU freshman Michaela Patton homered, scoring Antonette Smith to lift the Lady Tigers to a 2-0 advantage.
From the mound, senior Madison Hedderly held Mississippi Valley State to only three hits through the first three innings. In the fourth, the Devilettes Carmen Hill was hit by a pitch, scoring Alexandra Sullivan who reached on a single.
Into the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Tigers held a 2-1 lead. Freshman Torrian Wright homered to center, scoring Amber Hallman, who walked, to give SSU a 4-1 lead. Wright led the Lady Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
In the top of the sixth, Mississippi Valley's Natalia Covarrubias was platted on a throwing error after reaching on a single. Hill scored on an error after walking. Alexandria Robertson homered to center field, scoring Jahcenda Garrett to give the Devilettes a 5-4 lead.
SSU managed two hits, but failed to score in the final two innings. Both teams had seven hits and one error in the contest.
Kimberly Spivey garnered her fourth win of the season after 2.2 innings of work for the Devilettes. She allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Hedderly was tagged with the loss after a complete game in the circle. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com
Errors Doom Norfolk State in 10-2 Loss to Delaware
NORFOLK, Va. - Delaware pounded out 10 hits but five errors on the Spartans and a couple more mental mistakes also contributed to a 10-2 loss in six innings for the Norfolk State Friday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field.
Only five of the 10 runs scored by the Blue Hens were earned, as miscues on the Spartans prolonged some innings and eventually dropped NSU to 2-4 on the season. Delaware improved to 7-2.
A double steal in the top of the first opened the scoring for Delaware, and the Blue Hens added two more later in the inning when Whitney Williams misplayed a hit to left field.
NSU added one in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore Alina Moriarty hit a rocket past the second baseman and all the way to the outfield wall to open the inning for NSU. After a bunt single by junior Morgan Boyd, Williams lofted a sacrifice fly to deep right field to bring home Moriarty.
Tori Conrad made it 4-1 in the third when she took an upstairs 1-2 fastball and deposited it over the center field fence. Boyd, though, walked to open the bottom of the third and eventually got to third. Junior Melina Valles hit one back up the middle to make it 4-2, but Delaware starter Amanda Stacevicz got junior Nikki Jones to strike out with the bases loaded a few batters later to end the threat.
The Blue Hens added three in the fourth on a single by Jessica Grisler, a double from Lara Andrews and another RBI single off the bat of Michelle McKinnon. Two more errors on NSU brought another run home in the fifth, and Delaware pushed its advantage to the eight-run rule in the sixth when two more crossed the plate.
Stacevicz (2-0) picked up the win for Delaware, giving up two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts in all six innings.
Junior Jamie Schulle (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs, three earned, on six hits with six strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com