Game 1
Game 2
NORFOLK, Va. — Jamie Raab (Houston, Texas) drove in the game-winning run to give the Norfolk State softball team a 6-5 victory in game 1, but Florida A&M won the rubber game 6-1 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field.
The Spartans (9-17, 2-3 MEAC) found themselves down 3-0 heading into the bottom o f the sixth, but scored four runs in the frame to take a 4-3 lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, FAMU pitcher Amanda Reyes hit Raab with a pitch to score Brianeisha Eure (Virginia Beach, Va.). Danielle Wright (Safety Harbor, Fla.) followed with a two-RBI single, then Meghan Ramsey (Virginia Beach, Va.) singled through the left side to score Raab.
Not to be outdone, FAMU (19-16, 1-1 MEAC) posted two runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead, but the Spartans would not go down without a fight. Rebecca Barnes (Hampton, Va.) tied the game at 5-all with an RBI single through the right side. One batter later, Raab delivered the game winner to give the Spartans their first win over FAMU since the 2008 season.
Elizabeth Castaneda (Montclair, Calif.) picked up the win for NSU after pitching two and one-third innings in relief. She allowed four hits and two unearned runs. FAMU reliever Jennifer Lindsey gave up four hits and two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Reyes pitched five and two third innings while giving up three hits, four runs (two earned) and striking out eight batters.
In the second game, the Lady Rattlers pounded out 12 hits en route to scoring six runs. NSU only managed just one run in the third inning when Eure scored on a wild pitch by Lindsey.
Lindsey earned the win for FAMU after tossing a nine-hit, one-run complete game. Alyssa Velazquez (Aurora, Colo.) fell to 5-10 on the season with the loss. She gave up eight hits and four earned runs in three and two-third innings.
On the day, Eure went 4-for-5 and scored one run for NSU. Mellisa Oliphant was 5-for-8 with two runs, three RBI and a home run for FAMU.
The teams conclude their three-game series with an 11 a.m. single game on Sunday.
