ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Senior Alina Moriarty broke the Norfolk State record for career hits during NSU's 6-1 loss to Florida A&M on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the MEAC softball tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

As a result of the setback, the Spartans fell to the loser's bracket and will face North Carolina A&T at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in an elimination game.

Moriarty's shot to left field in the sixth prevented a shutout for Florida A&M pitcher Kenya Pereira. While rounding third, the senior pointed to former Spartan Morgan Boyd in the crowd as Moriarty surpassed Boyd with her 206th career base hit.

NSU (14-26) had very little else go right for it, though.

The Rattlers scored an unearned run in the first inning on a wild pitch with two outs. FAMU (15-36) then broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fourth.

A pair of infield singles and an error loaded the bases. A single into left field scored one run, and two straight grounders to short plated two more. Amber Fullwood hit a sacrifice fly to shallow right to bring home the last run.

A bases loaded walk in the sixth extended FAMU's lead to 6-0 before Moriarty broke up the shutout in the bottom half of the frame.

Pereira (12-13) pitched all seven innings and allowed four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.