NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman Makenna Heimann hit a double toward the right field corner to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh of game 2, and the Norfolk State softball team split a pair of games against Delaware on Friday night.
 
In both teams' season opener, the Blue Hens tallied three unearned runs in game 1 to win 3-1, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie. But then in the second contest, the Spartans raced out to a 7-0 lead after three innings, only for Delaware to score five runs in the next two innings and then two more in the seven to tie the game up.
 
Heimann, however, finished a 3-for-3 game with her double with two outs for an 8-7 win at the NSU Softball Field.
 
The Spartans had 12 hits for the game, which included a 3-for-4 effort from junior Shelby DesChamps. She scored twice, drove in a pair of runs and had two stolen bases.
 
NSU jumped on Delaware starter Maddi Marsh early. DesChamps singled to lead off the first and later scored on an RBI single by senior Hunter Halford. Freshman Gabby Vaughan also singled in a run, driving home sophomore Tuli Iosefa, who had walked earlier in the frame.
 
Freshman Lily Potter walked in the second inning and went to third on a bunt single by Heimann. Potter scored after the ball got away on Heimann's stolen base attempt, and Heimann later scored when the Blue Hens committed another error on DesChamps' bunt single. She later came home after singles by both senior Kylee Lopez and Iosefa.
 
Up 5-0 at that point, the Spartans added two more runs in the third when it looked like they were on the way to an easy win. Potter doubled, and Heimann hit a bunt single and stole second to put runners in scoring position with two outs. DesChamps brought both home with a single through the infield.
 
But the Blue Hens finally got going in the fourth, scoring three unearned runs in the frame, including two on a double from Brittney Mendoza. Delaware got a pair of RBI hits in the fifth to make it 7-5, and added two more unearned runs in the seventh on a fielder's choice and an error with the bases loaded. But the Spartans got the next two outs, including the third of the inning when Karolina Flores tried to steal home after a throw back to the circle.
 
Yet another error gave NSU an opening to win in the seventh. Halford hit an infield single, and she reached second base with one out when the Delaware second baseman dropped the throw at the bag. Then with two outs, Heimann's double finished it off.
 
Only two of the seven runs Delaware scored were earned. All three of its runs in the first game were unearned as well. It spoiled a seven-strikeout game by Halford.
 
The Blue Hens scored once in the third inning, while NSU tied it up in the bottom of the fourth. DesChamps tripled to lead off the inning and later scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Iosefa. But an error on NSU in the sixth allowed Delaware to put the first runner on base. An RBI hit and a sac fly later in the inning made it 3-1.
 
The Spartans got a pair of hits in the bottom of the sixth but could not push home the tying run. Halford suffered the loss after allowing four hits and the three unearned runs in five innings. Sarah Piening earned the victory for Delaware after pitching four innings and allowing just two hits.
 
NSU will head to Longwood next weekend for the Lancer Launch, where the Spartans will play five games against Robert Morris and Longwood.