NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State softball team stayed in front in the MEAC Northern Division after winning both games against Coppin State on Friday afternoon in conference action at the NSU Softball Field.
 
Senior Hunter Halford limited the Eagles to just one unearned run as the Spartans won the first game, 2-1. The Spartans scored three runs in each of the first two innings in game 2 for an eventual 7-1 victory.
 
NSU now sits 20-15 overall, but more importantly 7-1 in the MEAC. The Spartans came into the weekend a game ahead of Morgan State for first place in the division.
 
Norfolk State got just enough offense in game 1 to overcome Madison Didion's strong pitching performance. The Eagles scored first, going up 1-0 in the top of the fourth without the aid of a hit. But NSU immediately went ahead back in the bottom of the inning.
 
Senior Hunter Halford doubled with one out and sophomore Jazzmaine Hammond walked before Halford was later retired at third. Hammond and freshman Lily Potter stole third and second, respectively, before both came home when freshman Denisha Megginson dropped a single into shallow right-center that CSU right fielder Nia Bowe nearly made a diving catch on.
 
It was all the offense that the Spartans needed. Halford did the rest in the circle, improving to 10-9 on the year. She pitched all seven innings and allowed three hits and one unearned run with six strikeouts. CSU stranded four runners over the last three innings.
 
Megginson had two of NSU's four hits.
 
Didion allowed four hits and two earned run with four strikeouts in six innings of work for CSU (5-23, 3-5 MEAC). She also took the loss in game 2.
 
This time, the Spartans did not waste any time getting some runs across. In the first inning, with junior Shelby DesChamps and senior Kylee Lopez on base, freshman Gabby Vaughan lined a double to the left field corner to score both. She then came home when Hammond singled into left field.
 
DesChamps also hit a bunt single in the second with Potter on first. Potter made her way to third on the play, and both players advanced a base when CSU was unable to get either player out in a run down. Sophomore Tuli Iosefa hit a double past the third base bag to make it 5-0, and Halford followed with an RBI single to left.
 
The Eagles hit an RBI single in the fifth, but Lopez did the same in the sixth for the final margin. Lopez had two hits in the game, and DesChamps scored twice. The Spartans also finished with five stolen bases in the game and seven for the day.
 
Sophomore Skylar Swain (7-5) allowed just two hits in four innings of work for the win in the second contest. Senior Shannon Buffington earned a save with three innings of relief.
 
The two teams will play the third game of the series on Sunday at noon with rain in the forecast for Saturday.