Live Video | Live Stats
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team will attempt to get a full weekend's worth of games in this time, as NSU hosts the Spartan Classic this Saturday and Sunday out at the NSU Softball Field. The action begins each day at 9 a.m., with three more games to follow at tentative times of 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
Marist, Delaware and Army will join host NSU for the two-day tournament. NSU and Delaware will also play a single game Friday at 2:30 p.m. separate from the tournament.
The complete schedule is as follows (underlined team represents the home team for that game):
Saturday, March 2
9 a.m. - Delaware vs. Army
11 a.m. - Delaware vs. Marist
1 p.m. - NSU vs. Army
3 p.m. - NSU vs. Marist
Sunday, March 3
9 a.m. - Army vs. Marist
11 a.m. - NSU vs. Marist
1 p.m. - Army vs. Delaware
3 p.m. - NSU vs. Delaware
Live stats and a live video feed will be available for the entire tournament. The live stats link is the same for every game. The live video feed has a cost of $5 for one game or $8 for a doubleheader pass to watch both games each day per team. Fans must purchase the passes the day of the contest.
NSU enters the contest with Delaware on Friday with a 2-3 record. The Spartans split a doubleheader with North Carolina Central to open the season and then defeated Fairleigh Dickinson and lost to Monmouth twice last weekend in the Spartan Clash. The tournament was originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with eight games but had to be scaled back to six games on Sunday and Monday.
About Army
The Black Knights own a 2-3 record following their opening weekend Feb. 8-10 at the Plainsman Invitational at Auburn. A cancelled tournament Feb. 16-17 at UNC Charlotte means Army will have gone almost three weeks since last competing.
So far this year, Marina Northup has hit 5-for-12 with five RBI to lead the way for the Black Knights. Bernadette Cardon has knocked in four runs in just two at bats, while Christian McKone (4-for-10), Ali Cleinmark (4-for-12) and Alex Reynolds and Kasey McCravey (3 RBI each) have also contributed.
Morgan Lashley (6.20 ERA in 20.1 innings with 14 K's) and Braetana Roy (2.08 ERA, 8.2 innings) have pitched nearly every inning for Army.
About Delaware
The Blue Hens stand 6-2 after dropping their last two games to South Alabama, a team receiving votes in the national top 25 poll, and Jacksonville at the Jacksonville Invitational last weekend.
Lara Andrews (.440, 3 home runs, 8 RBI) and Hannah George (.588, 3 RBI) have done plenty of damage at the plate for the Blue Hens. Tori Conrad (.353, 2 doubles, 4 RBI), Shelby Jones (.333, 2 RBI) and Jessica Grisler (.308, 2 RBI) are also hitting above .300 on the year.
Kiersten Coffman (0.81 ERA, 17.1 innings), Taylor Curran (2.33 ERA, 12.0 innings, 8 K's) and Chenxi Jiao (2.49 ERA, 19.2 innings, 13 K's) have been a formidable pitching staff.
About Marist
The Red Foxes kick off their 2013 season this weekend after getting picked to finish second in the MAAC preseason poll. Infielders Danielle Koltz and Alyssa Zahka and pitcher Emily Osterhaus earned preseason All-MAAC honors.
Marist finished 28-27 last year with Zahka (.327, 40 runs, 5 home runs, 12 doubles, 31 RBI), Koltz (.314, 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 39 RBI) and Osterhaus (11-10, 3.73 ERA, 85 K's in 124.0 innings) three of the most important returnees from that team.
Up Next
NSU will head down to Savannah State next Wednesday for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.
