Softball | 3/30/2025 8:00:00 PM

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 30, 2025)--The Morgan State softball team continued its impressive run in conference play with a dominant 3-0 series sweep over South Carolina State this weekend at Lois T. Murray Field.
 
With the victories, the Lady Bears improved to 11-18 overall and 7-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), solidifying their position as a top contender. Morgan has now won eight of its last 10 games, including six straight MEAC contests.
 
This series marked the first meeting between the Lady Bears and the S.C. State Lady Bulldogs since their intense showdown in the 2024 MEAC Tournament, where Morgan State clinched a dramatic walk-off win thanks to an RBI from Victoria Fletcher, thus eliminating S.C. State.

"I expected them to come in and fight, and that's exactly what they did," said Fletcher. "They're a very scrappy team, but we were able to get things done when it mattered. The crowd was unbelievable for us. You don't often see the stands this full, but when you do, it's a great day because having so many supporters out here makes a difference." 
 
Unlike last year's tournament thriller, the Lady Bears left no room for late-game heroics this time, controlling the series from start to finish.
 
"Beating them three times in a row is tough—and really, four times in a row if you count last year's MEAC Tournament win," said head coach Larry Hineline. "Our team is really excited because we understand how hard it is to consistently beat a quality team like South Carolina State."

Morgan wasted no time setting the tone in the opening game on Saturday, capitalizing early to claim a 4-0 shutout victory.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, the Bears struck first as Fletcher delivered a clutch double to right field, bringing Amber Rivas home for the game's first run.
 
Morgan extended its lead in the second inning, with freshman Nia Lewis and Olivia Pagano both crossing the plate to push the score to 3-0. The Lady Bears' defense held strong, keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard while maintaining control of the game.
 
The final run of the game came in the fourth inning when Cassie White added to the lead, scoring on another deep ball hit from Fletcher to right-center field.
 
The Lady Bears' pitching staff, led by a stellar performance from the mound, ensured that South Carolina State never found an offensive rhythm.
 
In Game 2 the Lady Bulldogs put up a stronger fight, but Morgan remained composed to secure the 3-2 victory and complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
Despite South Carolina State's attempts to rally, the Lady Bears' defense held firm in key moments, preventing the Lady Bulldogs from taking control. Timely hits and smart base running played a crucial role in keeping Morgan ahead throughout the game.
 
The Lady Bears took an early lead as Rivas scored on a bunt single by Olivia Garner in the first inning. 
 
The Lady Bulldogs responded in the second to tie the game, but Morgan regained control in the third with two unearned runs off errors and a fielder's choice, extending their lead to 3-1.
 
South Carolina State fought back with an RBI double in the fifth, but the Lady Bears' defense held strong to seal the win.
 
In Sunday's series finale, the Lady Bears took the win, 7-2. The Lady Bears got on the board early as Amber Rivas scored on a passed ball in the first inning. In the second, Tia Marks crossed home on a sacrifice bunt from Alison Keener, extending the lead to 2-0.
 
Morgan's offense continued to roll in the third with White and Garner adding runs to push the score to 4-0. South Carolina State responded with a run in the fourth, but the Lady Bears answered back in the fifth as Gianna Ettore delivered a two-run RBI single, extending the lead to 6-1.
 
The Lady Bears their final run in the sixth on a wild pitch, which scored Lewis. The Lady Bulldogs rounded out the scoring when they tacked on a final run in the seventh on Alyssa Stanf's single up the middle to score Mikenna Will.
 
The Lady Bears are back on the field on Wednesday, April 2nd as they travel to Towson, Md. to take on Towson at 3 p.m. at Tiger Softball Stadium.
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.