Box Score BALTIMORE, Md. – The sophomore duo of Alina Moriarty and Haley Ward combined to drive in 10 runs in leading the Norfolk State softball team to a 17-7 victory over Morgan State on Saturday evening.

Because of poor field conditions at MSU's home field, the game was played at the Coppin State Softball Complex and did not start until 7 p.m. following CSU's doubleheader against Delaware State.

The late start – MEAC games usually get going at 1 p.m. on Saturdays – did not slow down the NSU offense, and two players in particular. Moriarty went 2-for-4 and drove in a career-high six runs, while Ward batted 4-for-5 with four RBI. They had half of the Spartans' 12 hits in the game.

The victory improved NSU's first place MEAC record to 9-1 and overall record to 16-18. The Bears dropped to 2-28, 0-7 in conference play.

Freshman Whitney Williams hit 2-for-3 and added three runs and two RBI, while junior Morgan Boyd and freshman Heather Dunning each scored three runs as well. The Spartans scored their most runs in a game this season.

A big seven-run second inning had the Spartans comfortably in the lead. Senior Chelsea Davis doubled with one out, and two batters later with the bases loaded, Williams singled in the first run of the game. After the Bears recorded the second out at home plate, pinch hitter Nikki Jones walked to score another run, and Moriarty made it 4-0 with a two-run single to center.

Ward hit an RBI single and Davis and junior Kathy Cortez each walked with the bases loaded to complete the early scoring. Ward then hit a two-run double in the third, and NSU added five more in the top of the fourth for a 14-0 lead. Williams walked with the bases loaded, and a passed ball later in the inning scored a second run.

Two more runs scored when Boyd walked with the bases loaded and Moriarty hit into a fielder's choice. Ward's RBI single between first and second added one more run to NSU's total.

The Bears fought back with six runs in the bottom of the fourth. An error on NSU plated the first run, and Morgan State hit a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to score two more. The Bears hit two more RBI singles, and in between the second error of the inning on the Spartans helped cut NSU's lead to 14-6.

After Dunning singled and Boyd reached base on a third strike wild pitch with two outs, Moriarty homered to left in the top of the fifth to complete the scoring for the Spartans. Morgan State added one more run in the bottom of the frame before NSU won because of the eight-run rule.

Junior Jamie Schulle (11-10) got the win after pitching 4.1 innings and allowing eight hits and four runs, one earned.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday at noon at Morgan State's Lois T. Murray Field.