BALTIMORE, Md. – Norfolk State broke a scoreless tie with a six-run sixth inning, and the Spartan softball team shut out Morgan State in both teams' MEAC opener on Saturday afternoon, 7-0.
 
The Spartans had four hits in their big inning at Lois T. Murray Field, part of a nine-hit game for NSU, all singles. The Bears had just three hits all day as the Spartans completed their fifth shutout of the season, including their third in the last four games.
 
Senior Hunter Halford (7-6) came up big for NSU, allowing those three hits in all seven innings with six strikeouts. She helped the Spartans improve to 13-11 overall this season. Morgan State dropped to 6-16 overall.
 
Freshman Denisha Megginson hit a two-run single to highlight the sixth inning. NSU was able to break the game open by manufacturing those six runs. A single by freshman Alison Guckin was followed by two fielder's choices in which MSU failed to record an out.
 
Senior Kylee Lopez singled in one run, and sophomore Jazzmaine Hammond also scored for a 2-0 lead after taking advantage of a Morgan State throw during the play. The Bears got the next two outs, but a pair of walks made it 3-0, and Meginson's single into center field added two more runs.
 
Freshman Mia Holmes hit an infield single for the final scoring of the inning. NSU also added a run in the top of the seventh when junior Shelby DesChamps singled, later stole third, and then scored on freshman Gabby Vaughan's infield single.
 
MSU, meanwhile, never got a runner to third. Stephanie Rundlett (4-10) took the loss after giving up five hits and four earned runs in five innings of work. She faced four batters in the sixth but failed to record an out.
 
NSU and Morgan State will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. after weather changed the schedule for this weekend's three-game series.