Norfolk State 3, Coppin State 0
Morgan State 8, Howard 4
Florida A&M 10, North Carolina A&T 2
Florida A&M 13, North Carolina A&T 2
NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State softball team finished a weekend sweep of Coppin State with a 3-0 win on Sunday afternoon in MEAC action at the NSU Softball Field.
A pair of Spartan pitchers limited the Eagles to five hits. CSU stranded nine runners, including the bases loaded in the sixth for its best chance to break through. NSU scored all three of its runs in the first two innings and did not record a hit after the second frame.
The victory improved NSU's record to 21-15 overall and 8-1 in the MEAC. The Spartans held onto first place in the Northern Division, as every other team has at least three losses now.
Senior Hunter Halford (11-9) earned the win in relief, allowing just one hit with six strikeouts.
The Spartans struck first when junior Shelby DesChamps led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single and scored on senior Kylee Lopez' homer, her fifth of the season, to left center for a 2-0 advantage. They made it 3-0 in the second when sophomore Jazzmaine Hammond singled, stole second and third, and then scored with two outs when sophomore Jade Dixon lined a single over the third baseman's head.
The Eagles (5-24, 3-6 MEAC) had their best chance in the sixth, as an error and a fielder's choice when no out was recorded put two runners on base with no outs. The two runners eventually went to second and third on another error, and CSU loaded the bases before Halford struck out the last batter to end the threat.
The Eagles also had runners on first and second in the seventh with one out but were again stymied by Halford.
CSU pitcher Madison Didion (4-12) allowed just four hits and three earned runs while striking out seven.