Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to win game 1 over the Norfolk State softball team, but the Spartan offense took command in game 2 as the teams split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Nationals Youth Academy.
 
NSU was limited to just three hits in the first game, won by the Bison in walk-off fashion by a 3-2 score. The Spartans had 12 hits in the second contest to earn an 11-5 triumph.
 
The Spartans ran their record to 7-4 in conference play and 13-19 overall. Howard saw its marks go to 6-26 overall and 2-6 in the MEAC.
 
Junior Kayla McNair drove in four runs in the second game to lead the Spartan attack. Senior Megan Dunning and sophomore Megan Przeslawski each had two hits and two RBI.
 
The Spartans equaled their production from the first game in the first inning alone of game 2. Sophomore Seana Moriarty hit a bloop single to center that fell when the center fielder lost sight of the ball in the sun. Walks by senior Whitney Williams and McNair loaded the bases, and Dunning lofted a deep fly to the wall in left for a sac fly and the early lead. Przeslawski followed with a double to left center for a 2-0 edge.
 
A sac fly in the bottom of the frame for Howard got a run back for the Bison before NSU extended its lead in the second.
 
Freshman Kylee Lopez opened the inning with a single off the glove of the third baseman. Junior Devon Bitler followed with a double to right, aided in part when the right fielder charged the ball before it went over her head. A walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and one out later McNair walked to make it 4-1. Dunning followed with a shot back to the pitcher, reaching first when the ball bounced straight up in the air off the pitching rubber for an RBI single.
 
Przeslawski dropped an RBI single into center field for a 6-1 lead, but Alex Flynn got the next two outs with the bases loaded to prevent any more damage.
 
Flynn hit a two-run double in the fourth to cut the Spartan lead to 6-3. Then in the fifth, a single, error and walk loaded the bases for the Spartans with no outs. McNair followed with a double over a drawn-in Al'Asia Davis in left field to score all three runners.
 
Jasmine Gammons' RBI double in the fifth made it 9-4, but Bitler and Heather Dunning hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth to put the margin back at six. Lopez smacked an RBI single in the seventh, and Gammons responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning for the final margin.
 
NSU had six doubles in the game but also left 13 runners on base. The Spartans also drew seven walks.
 
Lopez and Bitler each went 2-for-5, while Heather Dunning batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored at the top of the lineup. Moriarty and Williams each scored three runs.
 
Sophomore Marissa Marrero (7-10) pitched all seven innings to earn the win for NSU.
 
Howard took game 1 with a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning off NSU starter Hunter Halford (3-5).
 
A pair of hits for the Bison allowed them to eventually load the bases with no outs. The Spartans got the first out at home on a hit right in front of the plate, but the throw to first for a potential double play sailed into right field to score the winning run.
 
The Bison had scored first to open up the day off Milan Poindexter's RBI double in the bottom of the first. NSU then tied it up in the top of the third. Freshman Stephanie Davenport reached when shortstop Tiyanna Stewart ran into second baseman Aiannah Baiyina trying to make a catch on a pop up behind second base. Davenport eventually scored when Bitler hit a shot to first that Poindexter originally misplayed. She recovered in time to get Bitler at first but not before Davenport crossed the plate.
 
The Bison got the run back in the fourth, putting the first two runners on before an error on the Spartans put Howard ahead 2-1. NSU had the response in the next half inning, getting a pair of walks and a single through the infield by Heather Dunning to load the bases with one out. Moriarty lined one to left field to score Halford on the sac fly before relief pitcher Tara Castellano retired the next batter to end the threat.
 
Both teams had chances to score in the sixth before stranding runners on third. One inning later, Howard earned the walk-off win.
 
NSU left seven batters on base in the first game, and Moriarty had two of the team's three hits.
 
Halford gave up six hits and three runs, one earned, in 6.1 innings.
 
Flynn did not get the win but limited NSU to one hit and two runs, one earned, after starting the contest and pitching the first 4.1 innings. Castellano (1-4) got the victory in relief after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings.
 
The two teams will finish out the series Sunday at noon.