Box Score NEWARK, Del. – Sophomore Robyn Mitchell and junior Melina Valles hit RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and propel the Norfolk State softball team to a 5-3 win over Hartford Saturday afternoon during the second day of the Delaware Spring Invitational.

Bad weather at the Delaware Softball Stadium then forced the cancellation of NSU's next game against St. Francis (Pa.), with the Red Flash up 2-1 on NSU after two complete innings. The game will not be made up, and the Spartans will finish the tournament with their regularly-scheduled contest against Villanova Sunday at 11:15 a.m.

Sophomore Liz Riley and junior Jamie Schulle combined to give up just the three unearned runs against the Hawks (5-12), with Riley (2-5) picking up the victory in relief. Sophomore Haley Ward hit 3-for-3, while Valles and junior Kathy Cortez each had two hits in the game.

Hartford took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings, the first run on a double steal and the second on an RBI double by Erica Phelps.

NSU (7-14) responded with three in the bottom of the fourth. Valles and Cortez singled with one out, and senior Marjorie Pettitt dropped one into left-center to score the first run. After an error on the Hawks loaded the bases, Ward hit one into right field, with a second run also scoring on the play after an error on Hartford right fielder Jenice Aloyo.

An error on NSU allowed the tying run to score for Hartford in the fifth, but the Spartans responded an inning later with the winning runs.

Ward singled but was thrown out at second on a bunt attempt by freshman Heather Dunning. After junior Morgan Boyd reached base on a bunt single, Mitchell entered the game and singled through the middle of the infield to plate Dunning. Valles singled through the hole between shortstop and third in the next at bat for an insurance run.

Schulle gave up one run on two hits in 3.2 innings, while Riley allowed two unearned runs on one hit in the final 3.1 innings. Brittany Beebe (1-3) suffered the loss for Hartford after allowing two earned runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Hartford defeated the Spartans, 3-2, the day before.