Spartan Offense Has Season-Best Showing over UMES

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Norfolk State pounded out a season-high 16 hits and also benefitted from seven UMES errors to earn a 14-4 victory on Sunday afternoon in a softball matchup at Hawks Field.

NSU won in six innings after scoring five runs in the sixth to force the eight-run rule and give the Spartans their most runs in a game this year. The two MEAC Northern Division rivals only played one contest this weekend after weather conditions forced a postponement of Saturday's doubleheader. Those games will be made up at a later date.

Junior Kayla McNair batted 4-for-5 with three runs scored, while senior Megan Dunning hit 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead the hit attack for the Spartans. Included in those 16 hits were seven doubles, including two each by Dunning and junior Devon Bitler.

The win improved NSU's MEAC record to 5-2 and its overall mark to 10-14.

Bitler (2-for-5, two runs, two RBI) and sophomore Seana Moriarty (2-for-4, two runs, one RBI) set the tone at the top of the lineup, while senior Whitney Williams scored three runs.

Sophomore Marissa Marrero (6-7) got the win for NSU, allowing five hits in six innings while giving up all four earned runs.

NSU will travel to Baltimore to play a doubleheader at Towson on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.umeshawks.com 

DSU Routs Coppin State in Five Innings to earn Series Sweep

DOVER, Del. - The Delaware State softball team (14-14, 7-2 MEAC) wrapped up its dominating three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) home series against the Coppin State Eagles (2-22, 2-7 MEAC) Sunday afternoon with a 14-2 five-inning victory, headlined by the Hornets totaling a season-high 16 hits, with six players registering two or more.

The victory for the Hornets secured their fourth consecutive regular season series sweep over the Eagles, in addition to defeating Coppin State for the 14th straight time.  The Eagles, on the other hand, have now dropped five in a row since taking two out of three at home from MEAC foe UMES last weekend.

To close out the game, starter Nicole Brock (7-4) nearly pulled off her second shutout win of the season, until CSU’s Cayla Brown (1) connected for a two-run blast with two outs in her lone at-bat of the game.  

For Coppin State, Megan Narveaz (2-5), gave up 14 hits, 12 earned runs and a walk in 2.1 innings of work.

Nicole Gazzola went 2-for-4 with three runs and extended her streak of scoring at least once and registering a hit to 10 games.  Tallying three hits each were Vanessa Washington, Jordan Stamps and Haley Jones, whereas Washington also scored three times.  Stamps and Jones, meanwhile, also drove in three runs, along with Sandy Hawthorne.

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