Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Norfolk State softball team fell twice more on Sunday during the second day of the Blue & Gold Tournament hosted by North Carolina A&T. Rider came away with an 8-1 victory over the Spartans in a late morning contest, and the host Aggies closed out the day with a 9-3 win.
 
Rider scored most of its runs early in the game, while N.C. A&T broke open a tied game with six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to drop NSU to 1-11 on the season.
 
Senior right fielder Alina Moriarty had three hits on the day with two runs and two RBI. She helped get the Spartans going in the top of the fourth inning after North Carolina A&T had built a 3-0 lead in the first.
 
An error and a walk put two runners on, and Moriarty followed with an RBI single to center. Freshman Megan Przeslawski hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and junior Whitney Williams smacked an RBI single to center to tie it up at 3-3.
 
The Aggies went ahead with two runs in the fifth. Then in the sixth, N.C. A&T loaded the bases with two outs and Dasia Moore hit a grand slam to left to break the game open.
 
Maiven McKnight (4-6) gave up three unearned runs on five hits in all seven innings. Alejandra Barcenas and Zebresha Blakeney each went 3-for-4 with three runs scored at the top of the lineup for the Aggies (7-12).
 
Rider (4-4), meanwhile, did most of its damage in the first two innings. Dana Sensi hit a two-run triple and Gina McCool hit an RBI single during a three-run first. Sensi also hit a two-run homer during a three-run second as the Broncs built a 6-0 lead.
 
McCool then drilled a two-run double in the fourth for an 8-0 lead. Moriarty led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer, her third of the season, to right center to close out the game's scoring.
 
Moriarty and freshman shortstop Brandy Davis each went 2-for-3 against the Broncs. Sophomore left fielder Devon Bitler also had two hits over the course of the day.
 
Senior Liz Riley allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out five in 5.2 innings of relief against Rider.
 
Sensi (2-for-4, two runs, four RBI) and McCool (4-for-4, three RBI) provided most of the offense.
 
The Spartans begin MEAC play next weekend with a three game series at Coppin State.