NORFOLK, Va. – Maryland Eastern Shore starting pitcher Adrienne Guerra struck out eight and allowed just three hits to lead the Hawks to a 4-0 victory over the Norfolk State softball team on Monday morning at the NSU Softball Field.
 
Playing the third game of a conference series that was pushed back to Sunday-Monday, NSU was unable to push a run across while leaving 10 runners on base. Senior Devon Bitler had two of the team's three hits as the Spartans fell to 2-4 in conference play and 9-13 overall.
 
The Hawks (10-14, 4-4 MEAC) won a series from NSU for the first time since the Spartans moved to the Northern Division in 2012.
 
Guerra worked around five walks to improve her overall record to 7-6. The Hawk offense, meanwhile, scored single runs in four different innings to secure the victory.
 
It did not take long for the Hawks to get going. They loaded the bases to start the game on three straight hits, and one run scored on Samantha Casarez' sac fly to center. The Spartans ended up turning a double play after getting the runner going to third, and starter Megan Przeslawski struck out the next batter to keep it a 1-0 game.
 
The Spartans left at least one runner on base in every inning, and MDES slowly increased its lead as the game wore on. Tori Jo Brown hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Guerra added an RBI single in the fifth. The Hawks scored one more run in the seventh on an infield error on NSU with runners on first and second.
 
Przeslawski (3-7) took the loss after giving up six hits and three earned runs in four innings. Sophomore Hunter Halford allowed four hits and one unearned run in three innings of relief.
 
Norfolk State's mid-week doubleheader at North Carolina Central scheduled for this Wednesday was cancelled due to the threat of rain. Instead, the Spartans will be back on the field next weekend at Morgan State for a three-game MEAC series.