ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Maiven McKnight gave up two unearned runs in a complete-game effort, and North Carolina A&T State knocked the Norfolk State softball team out of the MEAC championship with a 4-2 win in the loser’s bracket of the conference tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Errors once again did NSU in, as all four runs scored by the Aggies were unearned. The loss ended the Spartans’ season at 14-27 overall. North Carolina A&T improved to 15-30 and advanced to the next round on Friday morning.
McKnight (9-12) scattered seven hits and struck out two in seven innings of work. Her counterpart, NSU senior Liz Riley, also allowed seven hits and gave up four unearned runs with three strikeouts.
A throwing error on the Spartans plated a run for the Aggies in the top of the second. But the Spartans answered in their half of the inning.
NSU put the first two runners on base and then moved them into scoring position on a groundout. After an error on the Aggies loaded the bases, senior catcher Sommer Di Fulgo lofted one down the right field line. Aggie second baseman Zebresha Blakeney made a fantastic catch on the run, but with her momentum taking her into foul territory and away from the infield, junior third baseman Whitney Williams was able to score easily from third.
Tied at 1-1, the Spartans threatened in the fifth with one out. Junior center fielder Heather Dunning lined one off the third baseman’s glove and sophomore left fielder Devon Bitler dropped one into shallow left. Aggie shortstop Alejandra Barcenas made a nice catch on a hard liner by senior right fielder Alina Moriarty that was destined for center field, and Barcenas then stepped on second to complete the double play.
The Aggies took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the sixth inning for a 3-1 lead. Two singles started the inning, and one out later an error on the Spartans loaded the bases. NSU got the second out on a force at home, but a walk by Jillian Nobles and a single in front of the plate off the bat of McKnight brought home both runs.
Williams prevented any more damage when she made a great diving stop on a liner between short and third.
She then singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and went to second on an error on the play. A groundout moved pinch runner Hannah Haustein to third, and senior Robyn Mitchell brought her home on a sharp liner between short and third.
N.C. A&T tallied an insurance run in the seventh on Dasia Moore’s single into left field.
Dunning had three of NSU’s hits, while Mitchell went 2-for-3 with an RBI.