Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Norfolk State softball team scored early in its first game on Sunday, but the Spartans were held scoreless for the rest of the day in a pair of losses to Youngstown State and UNC Wilmington at the University Area Hampton Inn Showcase.
 
After plating a pair of runs in the first inning against YSU, the Penguins held NSU (0-4) scoreless for the rest of the game in a 7-2 triumph over the Spartans. Host UNC Wilmington then allowed just two hits in a 4-0 win against NSU to close out the tournament. The Seahawks scored all four runs in the first inning.
 
Youngstown State plated seven runs on just eight hits, thanks in part to a four-run second inning, in a morning matchup at Boseman Field.
 
After a sacrifice fly put YSU on the board in the top of the first, the Spartans scored their only two runs of the day in the bottom of the frame. Junior center fielder Dunning walked, and senior right fielder Alina Moriarty reached first on a bunt single to open NSU's inning. After both runners moved into scoring position, Dunning scored on a passed ball, and Moriarty came home on sophomore Kayla McNair's RBI single.
 
The Penguins had half their game's production in the second inning. An error and two singles loaded the bases with no outs, and Sarah Dowd followed with a grand slam to center field off NSU starter Marissa Marrero for a 5-2 lead.
 
The Spartans left a pair of runners on in the second and third innings, and then had a great chance to score in the fifth. Two walks and a single by freshman third baseman Megan Przeslawski put three runners on base. Relief pitcher Caitlyn Minney recorded the last out of the inning on in infield pop-up to maintain the Penguin advantage. NSU left 11 runners on base in the game.
 
YSU (4-5) scored its last two runs of the contest earlier in the fifth on a two-run single by Alexandria Gibson.
 
Dunning, McNair and Przeslawski each had a pair of hits in the game.
 
Seahawk starter Peyton Jordan (3-1) struck out four and gave up just two hits in seven innings against the Spartans in a mid-afternoon contest.
 
Spartan starter Liz Riley (0-2) settled down after a rough first inning, when the Seahawks (11-4) scored all four of their runs and had four of their game-total of six hits.
 
With two outs, UNC Wilmington connected on three straight extra-base hits to score two runs, and Monica Taylor hit a two-run single to close out what ended up being the scoring for the entire game.
 
UNC Wilmington managed just three base runners over the last five innings, as Riley gave up just two hits and one walk after the first inning. The Spartans, though, had just four base runners for the entire contest.
 
The Spartans will play a doubleheader at North Carolina Central on Tuesday before returning home to host George Washington on Thursday at 1 p.m. for a pair of games and the first ones this season at home for NSU.