Box Score NORFOLK, Va. – In a wild, back and forth contest, the Norfolk State softball team took the lead for good with four runs in the sixth on the way to an 8-5 victory over Howard on Sunday afternoon in a MEAC matchup at the NSU Softball Field.
 
The Spartans completed the series sweep of Howard, but not before having to go punch-for-punch with the Bison after winning by seven and eight runs in two games on Saturday. Howard either tied or took the lead in three straight innings before NSU finally secured the victory in that sixth inning.
 
Down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans loaded the bases thanks to three straight singles, the last two of the infield variety. Senior center fielder Alina Moriarty lofted a sacrifice fly to left that allowed all three runners to move up, including the tying run to home plate in sophomore shortstop Mikki Haury.
 
Freshman second baseman Seana Moriarty scored on the next play when she took off for home on a groundout to the shortstop. Junior third baseman Whitney Williams then singled to center to score the third run of the inning.
 
Sophomore first baseman Kayla McNair followed with a single to the center field wall, and pinch runner Megan Dunning scored when McNair made it safely to second on a run-down.
 
Relief pitcher Marissa Marrero (2-8) got the last three outs of the seventh to close out the win, the 10^th straight for the Spartans against Howard dating back to 2012.
 
NSU improved to 4-14 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Howard dropped to 8-21 overall, 2-4 in the MEAC.
 
Howard responded every time NSU scored in the early part of the game. Senior first baseman Robyn Mitchell scored in the second when Howard catcher Jenny Ly threw the ball down the left field line on a failed pick off. The Bison made it 2-1 in the third inning thanks to a passed ball and error on NSU.
 
The Spartans tied it right back up in the bottom of the third when Williams slid into first and beat out an infield single, scoring Alina Moriarty. But the Spartans left the bases loaded, and again Howard answered right back as Jasmine Gammons belted a two-run homer to right center in the fourth for a 4-2 lead.
 
NSU plated two runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth to again tie the game up. A walk and a bunt single put two runners on base, and senior catcher Sommer Di Fulgo came home on a fielding error on the Bison. Sophomore left fielder Devon Bitler lofted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-4.
 
Imani Ballard hit a bloop single into center field for Howard in the fifth for a 5-4 lead. One inning later, the Spartans rallied for one last time.
 
Marrero allowed just one earned run on three hits in 3.2 innings of relief.
 
Williams hit 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, while Haury also had a pair of hits and scored twice.
 
NSU will play a non-conference doubleheader at Towson on Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m.