Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Freshman Melina Valles tallied four RBI, including a bases-clearing double, to give the Norfolk State softball team a salvage in the final game of its series against Florida A&M, 6-3, Sunday afternoon at the Lady Rattler Softball Complex.

Valles hit an RBI single in a two-run first inning for the Spartans, then knocked home the eventual winning runs with a three-run double to right field in the top of the second. NSU improved to 8-18 overall and 1-5 in the MEAC. The Rattlers fell to 19-19, 2-1.

Junior Casey Pomeroy (4-5) picked up the win for NSU, giving up three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work. Ashleigh Minter (1-1) suffered the loss for FAMU, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings.

NSU jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the first inning. Freshman Morgan Boyd walked to lead off the inning and stole second, and then Valles singled into left field to score Boyd one out later. Junior Whitney Holland lined a shot into right field and then junior Candice Vasquez singled through the left side of the infield to bring home Valles.

After the Rattlers cut into the Spartan lead with a run in the bottom of the first, NSU scored four more runs in the second inning for a 6-1 advantage. Freshman Alexa Fleming reached on a fielder's choice and fellow rookie Kathy Cortez singled past the third baseman. An infield hit by Boyd loaded the bases, and Wright singled to left field to score Fleming.

Valles followed with her double to right field for a 6-1 lead, but relief pitcher Jenn Lindsey got Vasquez to line into a double play to end the threat.

FAMU picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth when Tenisha Dixon doubled to score Courtney Harold, and Whitney Robinson brought home Tera Gainer in the bottom of the seventh for the final scoring. FAMU left 11 runners on base in the game.

NSU will return home to host a midweek doubleheader with Longwood Wednesday at 4 p.m.