Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team used a walk-off wild pitch to earn the game 1 win over Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field. NSU piled up nine hits in the second contest to earn a sweep of the Rams in a non-conference matchup.
 
NSU rallied in the first contest, scoring twice in the sixth inning to tie the score and then plating the winning run in the seventh without having to swing the bat. Junior Kayla McNair and sophomore Seana Moriarty each had three hits and combined to drive in five runs in the second game.
 
It was the first game, though, that provided the day's drama.
 
Tied at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans scored the winning run without putting the ball in play. Senior Heather Dunning led off with a walk, went to second on a passed ball and then went to third on a wild pitch on ball four issued to freshman Shelby DesChamps. Dunning then scored on the very next pitch when Rhode Island relief pitcher Julia Waraksy threw one more into the dirt and to the backstop.
 
The Spartans (2-2) had scored in the second inning for the first run of the day. Moriarty walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Kylee Lopez then smacked a line drive double to the wall in left center to make it 1-0 in favor of NSU.
 
The Rams (3-7) answered right back in the top half of the third, as a single and walk put two runners on for URI's best hitter, Kylie Shivery. She deposited a 1-0 pitch up in the zone beyond the left field fence for a 3-1 Ram lead.
 
The Spartans, though, tied it up in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Whitney Williams lined one into center field with one out, and after Moriarty walked, McNair sent one between third and short to load the bases. Third baseman Shivery made a diving stop on a shot by Lopez down the line and threw to home from her knees to get the force out. But then with two outs, freshman Stephanie Davenport came through. She hit a high chopper back up the middle to score two runs and tie the score at 3-3.
 
Rhode Island got out of the inning with no more damage, as NSU left runners in scoring position. The Rams stranded a runner on third in the top of the seventh before the Spartans won the game in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Williams and Davenport each had two hits in the contest, and Moriarty scored twice. Sophomore Marissa Marrero (1-1) got the win, giving up six hits and three earned runs in all seven innings.
 
The rally spoiled a strong outing from URI starting pitcher Becca Rogers, who fanned five in five innings while allowing three hits and one earned run.
 
NSU benefitted from two errors on Rhode Island to go up 3-0 in the first inning of game 2. Dunning walked, DesChamps beat out a bunt single and junior Devon Bitler reached on an error on the shortstop to load the bases. Dunning scored when Waraksy fielded a hit by Williams but threw wide of the catcher on a potential force out at home.
 
DesChamps scored on a wild pitch, and Moriarty singled home another run with a hit through the right side of the infield. Waraksy got out of a bases loaded situation two batters later by inducing a foul out to the left fielder.
 
Ali Summers got a run back for the Rams in the top of the second on a solo homer just over the center field fence. The Spartans, though, answered right back with three more runs in the bottom of the frame. Dunning walked and Bitler hit a sharp single past the shortstop to put runners on the corners. A walk to Williams loaded the bases, and then with two outs, McNair chopped one over the pitcher's head.
 
Shortstop Jenna Cubello made a nice scoop of the ball on the run but was unable to set her feet for the throw to first. Bitler scored on the play, and then Moriarty followed with a bloop single into shallow center field to plate two more runs and give the Spartans a 6-1 lead.
 
NSU got out of a jam in the fourth to keep the lead at five. With two outs, the Rams put runners on the corners on a single and an error on NSU. Rhode Island originally scored one run on a wild pitch before the call was reversed to a hit by pitch, forcing the runner to go back to third. Przeslawski got out of the inning by striking out Bri Castro for the third out.
 
The Spartans then added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on first and one out, McNair took an off-speed pitch and dropped it into the right fielder corner to bring home Lopez on the double. Moriarty moved McNair to third with a bloop single over the first baseman's head, and pinch hitter Mikki Haury hit one under the glove of a diving Cubello at short for an 8-1 lead.
 
Rhode Island made it 8-4 in the sixth inning when Taylor Archer hit a three-run home run to center.
 
Moriarty (3-for-4, three RBI) and McNair (3-for-4, one run, two RBI) played a big part in the win for the Spartans. Bitler and Lopez each scored two runs as well.
 
Sophomore Megan Przeslawski got the victory, giving up six hits and four runs, three earned, in 5+ innings of work. She also struck out a career-high tying nine batters.
 
Waraksy (0-2) suffered both losses for the Rams.
 
The two teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.