Box Score
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Delaware State right fielder Aisha Holloman blasted a three-run home run to right center field to lead DSU to its first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference softball tournament title with a 3-0 win over Norfolk State on Saturday at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
With two outs and teammates Andrea Waters and Sha Tabor on base, Holloman, the tournament's outstanding performer, took a 0-1 pitch far over the fence in right center to score the only runs of the game.
All-Tournament team member Brittney Ruark pitched a two-hit complete-game shutout and struck out eight batters for her 15th win of the season. She proved her worth in the top of the sixth when, with bases loaded, she struck out three consecutive Spartans to get out of the inning.
An error by DSU third baseman Sherelle Sheppard loaded the bases with NSU's 2, 3, and 4 hitters coming up. But Ruark focused and got Jeanette Sauceda (Ontario, Calif.), Rebecca Barnes (Hampton, Va.) and Micki Rodriguez (Newport News, Va.) to go down swinging.
That was the closest the Spartans could get as DSU (29-23) got three quick outs in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
Spartan pitcher Ky Brown (Woodsfield, Ohio) tossed her fourth complete game of the tournament, giving up five hits and three earned runs in six innings for the loss. Brown (10-9) worked overtime in the Spartans' six tournament games, logging 37.1 innings with a 3.13 earned run average and 16 strikeouts en route to making the all-tournament team.
Barnes and Brianeisha Eure (Virginia Beach, Va.) joined Brown on the post-tournament award list.
The Spartans end the season at 23-33 and made their first championship game appearance under head coach Kary Kankey and the first since the 2000 season when NSU fell to Bethune-Cookman.
All-Tournament Team
Rebecca Barnes, Norfolk State
Ky Brown, Norfolk State
Brianeisha Eure, Norfolk State
Aisha Holloman, Delaware State
Brittany Ruark, Delaware State
Holly Bussey, Bethune-Cookman
Melissa Oliphant, Florida A&M
Brittany Davis, Hampton
Kristinia Cordova, Howard
Brianna Guiterrez, Howard
Megan Johnson, Morgan State
Outstanding Performer: Aisha Holloman, Delaware State
Outstanding Coach, Jeff Savage, Delaware State
