Game 1
Game 2

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team defeated Coppin State 10-2 in five innings and the University of Hartford 6-2 on Saturday in the first day of the 2008 Spartan Softball Clash.

Against Coppin State, NSU exploded for five runs in the first inning. The highlight of the game, however, came in the bottom of the second inning when Jeanette Sauceda (Ontario, Calif.) hit a solo home run (the first of her career) to lead off the inning. Sauceda went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the game.

The Spartans tallied 10 hits and had two errors, while CSU (0-2) had two hits and seven errors.

Sarah Wittwer (Grand Junction, Colo.) earned the win after pitching five innings and allowing just two hits and one unearned run. She struck out seven batters and walked two. Nichae Alston took the loss in four innings giving up 10 runs (three earned) and walking two.

In the Hartford game, the Spartans broke a 1-all tie in the top of the fifth when Jacklyn Peaton(Virginia Beach, Va.) had a two-RBI double to center field to put NSU up 3-1.

The Spartans sealed the win in the top of the sixth when Sauceda hit her second home run of the day, a three-run shot to center field.

Micki Rodriguez (Newport News, Va.) got the win after tossing seven innings and giving up five hits, two earned runs, and striking out six. Amanda Singer got the loss after five innings of work in which she allowed three hits, four runs (three earned), and walked four.

NSU plays Delaware State at 9 a.m. and then will either play in the consolation game at 1 p.m. or the championship game at 3 p.m.

Day One Results
Norfolk State 10, Coppin State 1
Delaware State 20, Coppin State 1
Hartford 9, Delaware State 0
Norfolk State 6, Hartford 2