This Week's Schedule
Wednesday: NSU at Savannah State (DH), 2 p.m., Lady Tiger Field

Camel Stampede Invitational - Amanda Littlejohn Stadium
Friday: NSU at Campbell, 5:30 p.m.; NSU vs. Drexel, 8 p.m.
Saturday: NSU vs. Northern Kentucky, 12:30 p.m.; NSU vs. Morehead State, 8 p.m.
Live Stats (Campbell)

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team will head south for its spring break week, beginning Wednesday with a doubleheader at Savannah State at 2 p.m. NSU will then turn around and travel up to Campbell for the Camel Stampede Invitational Friday and Saturday at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.

NSU will play Campbell and Drexel at 5:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, on Friday, followed by Northern Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. and Morehead State at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Live stats will be available for every game of the tournament at Campbell.

The Spartans enter the week carrying a 4-6 overall record after splitting their games on Saturday and Sunday in the Spartan Classic at the NSU Softball Field. They defeated Army and Marist by 8-6 scores on each day, with losses to Marist and Delaware also mixed in.

Savannah State owns a 10-8 record on the season after winning three of four and the tournament title at the Tiny Laster Tournament last weekend. Campbell stands 9-7 after winning just one of five games at the Hawai'i Invitational last weekend. Drexel (3-10) also lost four of five last weekend at Coastal Carolina and also plays Rider on Wednesday prior to heading to Campbell.

Northern Kentucky has tallied a 4-10 mark this season and, like Campbell and Drexel, won just one of five games last weekend at the Mercer Bear Classic. Morehead State had its weekend rained out and thus still sits at 2-5 heading into a game at Charlotte on Thursday.

Scouting the Spartans
NSU got its hitting going over the weekend, raising its team batting average up to .279 on the year. Freshman Whitney Williams (.375), sophomore Liz Riley (.375) and junior Melina Valles (.368) continue to lead the way despite having fewer at bats than some of NSU's other starters. Junior Morgan Boyd (.324, seven runs, 10 stolen bases) and sophomore Robyn Mitchell (.308, four RBI) are also hitting above .300 on the season.

Sophomore Alina Moriarty (.278, eight runs, three doubles, one home run, four RBI) and junior Kathy Cortez (.261, seven RBI) also provide offensive production. In the circle, the Spartans own a 4.74 team ERA despite giving up 33 unearned runs so far. Junior Jamie Schulle (4-5, 4.05 ERA, 38.0 innings, 31 K's) has done most of the pitching along with sophomore Liz Riley (4.94 ERA in 22.2 innings).

Swipin'
Morgan Boyd is a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts and has been successful in 36 of her last 37 attempts dating back to the end of her freshman year. She already ranks 13th all-time at NSU with 57 career steals.

Striking Out
Jamie Schulle has struck out 31 batter this year and now has 239 for her career. She ranks fourth all-time at NSU and needs 37 more to move into a tie for third.

Savannah State
Torrian Wright (.449, 17 runs, five doubles, seven home runs, 20 RBI), Michaela Patton (.415, 12 runs, five doubles, two home runs, six RBI) and Madison Hedderly (.342, eight runs, five doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI) have done most of the damage for Savannah State. Hedderly has also done most of the pitching, compiling a 7-4 record with a 3.68 ERA in 78 innings with 55 strikeouts.

Campbell
The Camels have two players hitting better than .500, Ericak Nesbitt (.538, 20 runs) and Stephanie Jones (.509, 15 runs, four doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI). Raven Lee (.267, six home runs, 20 RBI), Sarah Forgacs (.383, two homers, 12 RBI) and Courtney Klingler (.354, 15 runs, four homers, 14 RBI) provide plenty of more pop in the lineup. Campbell has used four different pitchers this year, with Brittany Arnn topping all of them with a 2.47 ERA in 17 innings. Courtney Roberts has pitched the most, throwing 31.2 innings with 24 K's and a 4.42 ERA.

Morehead State
Amber Riddle leads the way for the Eagles with a .389 average and two homers and five RBI. Elizabeth Wagner and Kayla Ashbrook each are hitting .381 with four RBI. Ashbrook has also scored a team-leading five runs. Adrena Anderson is also hitting .300 on the dot with four runs scored. Katie Pfost (3.12 ERA, 24.2 innings, 22 K's) and Kelcey McMurray (3.13 ERA, 15.2 innings) have pitched well early on for the Eagles.

Northern Kentucky
The Norse are hitting just .203 as a team, with Michelle Carson the only regular player hitting above .300 at .308. Dee Dee Davis is one of four players to have hit two home runs and has a team-leading nine RBI and six runs. Kelley Benhase has pitched well despite limited offensive support, posting a 4-4 record with a 2.87 ERA in 46.1 innings.

Drexel
The Dragons are not fairing any better than NKU, hitting a collective .196 with the top player Jess O'Hara at .267. Maggy Fermo has scored a team-leading seven runs, and Comfort Ahonkhai has contributed five RBI as well. Shelby Taylor (4.02 ERA, 31.1 innings) and Tara Konopka (5.11 ERA, 37.0 innings) have seen the majority of the time in the circle.

Up Next
Like this week, the Spartans will again play a mid-week doubleheader with a weekend tournament starting on March 13 at North Carolina A&T for two games. NSU will then play at the Delaware Invitational March 15-17.