NSU Softball
Friday: NSU at Delaware State, 3 p.m., Hornest Nest field
Saturday: NSU at Delaware State (DH), 10 a.m., Hornest Nest field
Live Stats

NORFOLK, Va. – In a matchup that will play a key role in this year's race for the MEAC Northern Division regular season title, the Norfolk State softball team will travel to Delaware State for a three-game series beginning on Friday at DSU's Hornets Nest field.
 
Because of the Easter holiday on Sunday, the two teams will play a Friday-Saturday series instead of the usual Saturday-Sunday. NSU and DSU will play one game on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. and then a doubleheader on Saturday at 10 a.m.
 
Delaware State will provide live stats for all three games at www.dsuhornets.com. Friday will mark DSU's first home game of the season.
 
The Hornets won the regular season North title last year at 14-4, a game ahead of Norfolk State (13-5). DSU, NSU and Hampton have finished 1-2-3 in some order in each of the last three seasons.
 
The Spartans got a head start on everyone else in the league by sweeping all three games against Coppin State last weekend at home to open MEAC play. Delaware State took two of three from UMES, while Hampton won two of three against Morgan State. Howard, the seventh team in the division, did not play in conference.
 
NSU enters Friday's games with an 8-12 overall record after falling twice to Drexel on Tuesday at home. Delaware State carries a 9-13 mark, which includes a 10-0 win over MEAC Southern Division opponent Savannah State earlier this year.
 
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans still lead the MEAC in ERA at 3.81, with the next closest team in Florida A&M at 4.27. Sophomore Megan Przeslawski ranks third in the league among individual pitchers with a 3.50 ERA while also standing seventh in strikeouts (44).
 
Devon Bitler stands third in the league in walks (12), with Seana Moriarty tied for fourth (11). Marissa Marrero is the only pitcher in the league with two shutouts to her credit this season.
 
Nationally
As a team, NSU stands 47^th in the nation in doubles per game at 1.56 as well as 97^th in scoring at 5.06 runs per game. Among individual players, Kayla McNair ranks highest at 20^th with 0.33 hit by pitch per contest. She is also 137^th in on-base percentage at .492.
 
One Step Closer
With her two-run shot on Tuesday against Drexel, her third of the season, Whitney Williams now has 18 home runs for her career. The school record stands at 22 set by Ursel Bruton from 1984-87 and Lekita Wilson from 1995-99.
 
About Delaware State
The Hornets are hitting .285 as a team thanks in part to Nicole Gazzola's .432 average to go with 18 stolen bases and 21 runs. Sandy Hawthorne is hitting .347 with 16 RBI, while Vanessa Washington has posted five home runs and 17 RBI while batting .310. Both Chloe Oro (.310) and Rochelle Sablay (.300) are also hitting well this season to lift the Hornet offense.
 
Nicole Brock owns a 3-3 record with a 3.89 ERA in 45 innings of work. Tara Tursellino carries a 6-6 record with a 4.43 ERA in a team-leading 60 innings while adding 44 strikeouts. The Hornets have also committed just 24 errors in 22 games this year.
 
Series History
The all-time series between NSU and DSU is all tied up at 22-22 after the Hornets won all three meetings last year in Norfolk. Delaware State has won five of the past six meetings against the Spartans.
 
Up Next
NSU will return home but head back on the road for next weekend when the Spartans play a normal Saturday-Sunday conference series at UMES on April 2-3.