Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team began its 2013 season Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader split at the NSU Softball Field, falling to North Carolina Central 6-4 in Game 1 before rebounding to win the second contest, 8-4.

The Eagles (1-7) scored five runs in the final two innings of the first game of the day, overcoming a 2-1 Spartan lead and chasing NSU starter Jamie Schulle. NC Central held on after the Spartans scored two in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to two.

A four-run second inning propelled NSU in Game 2. After the Eagles scored four in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to two, the Spartans added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the frame for the final scoring of the day.

Sophomore Alina Moriarty had a big afternoon for NSU, finishing 5-of-8 with two runs and three RBI. Freshman Whitney Williams added a pair of hits in each game and totaled three RBI, while junior Nikki Jones knocked in both runs in the bottom of the fourth of Game 2 with a pinch-hit single.

After an RBI double off the bat of Central's Nadia Jefferies got the scoring started in the third inning of the first game, Moriarty tied it up in the bottom half of the frame with a shot off the glove of Jenny Tracy at short that deflected into center field.

Moriarty hit another RBI single in the fifth to put NSU up, 2-1, but Camille Hampton hit a three-run home run with no outs in the sixth to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead. Central scored two more in the seventh before the Spartans rallied in their last at bat.

Moriarty and senior Chelsea Davis each hit singles and eventually moved into scoring position with two outs. Williams hit a scorcher to short that Tracy knocked down, scoring Moriarty in the process. Sophomore Liz Riley lined another RBI single to put the tying run on base before Eagles starter London Booker escaped the jam.

Booker got the win after allowing four earned runs on 10 hits in all seven innings.

NSU wasted little time in the second game in knocking around Eagles starter Bianka Molina. Junior Morgan Boyd scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, and then NSU put a four-spot on the board in the second inning to break the game open.

An error on Hampton at third with the bases loaded scored the first run, and Moriarty dropped one into the gap in shallow right center to plate freshman Clara Quiñones. Williams then hit a two-run single to center. NSU nearly scored one more, but Moriarty was thrown out at the plate to complete a double play.

Quiñones made it 6-0 with a sacrifice fly in the third, but the Eagles rallied in the fourth. Tracy dropped an RBI single down the right field line, and Molina, Tiphani Jackson and Joy Simpson each hit RBI singles later in the inning to make it 6-4. An infield single loaded the bases still with just one out, but Schulle recorded two straight groundouts to prevent any more damage.

Moriarty and Williams scored on Jones' pinch-hit single into center field with two outs in the fourth. Schulle shut down the Eagles the rest of the way for the victory.

She earned both decisions for NSU, giving up four runs, two earned, in five innings in the first game. She picked up the win in the second in relief of Riley, pitching 3.2 innings of scoreless ball while scattering five hits.

Molina allowed all eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in four innings.

NSU will host the Spartan Clash this Saturday and Sunday at the NSU Softball Field. Monmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson and Delaware State will join NSU for four games each day beginning at 9 a.m.