Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. – Micki Rodriguez (Newport News, Va.) went a combined 4-for-5 with five RBI to help the Norfolk State softball team end its nine-game losing streak with a 9-1, 9-0 non-conference doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday at the NSU Softball Field.
Rodriguez hit the game-ending double in game 2 that gave NSU (8-20) a large enough lead to end the game after six innings.
The Spartans dominated the Lady Hawks in both games pounding out a total of 18 hits and only committing one error. UMES (7-18) totaled just one run on eight hits and had five errors.
In game 1, things went downhill quickly for UMES in the bottom of the third inning when the Spartans scored six runs thanks in part to three Lady Hawk errors to take a 8-0 lead.
Spartan pitcher Ky Brown (Woodsfield, Ohio) had a two-hit shutout going until the top of the fifth when Jaleesa Lewis singled through the right side to score Cassandra Carlos from second. But the damage was already done and the game ended after five innings.
Brown earned her first win of the season after tossing five innings and allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out six. Marielle Garcia suffered the loss, pitching four innings and yielding 10 hits, nine runs (six earned) and walking two.
Game 2 was much of the same as the Spartans used a six-run, three-hit second inning to jump out to a quick 6-0 lead.
NSU tried to use the eight-runs-after-five-innings mercy rule in the second game, but could only get seven after five. Rodriguez delivered in the bottom of the sixth, however, with her hard-hit double to right field.
The Spartans made a winner of starting pitcher Sarah Wittwer (Grand Junction, Colo.), who threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Mishayla Truttman gave up nine runs (seven earned) and eight hits in the losing effort. She pitched five complete innings and faced three batters in the sixth without recording an out.
On the day, Jacklyn Peaton (Virginia Beach, Va.) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs. She hit a double and her first career triple in game 2. Jewel White (Chesapeake, Va.) also had a good day at the plate, going 3-for-7 with two RBI and two runs.
The Spartans resume conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader against Florida A&M at 1 p.m. at the NSU Softball Field. The teams conclude the three-game series on Sunday at noon.
