NORFOLK, Va. – Hunter Halford and Shannon Buffington combined to allow just two hits over seven innings of work, leading the Norfolk State softball team to a 3-0 win over South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field.
 
The second day of the Spartan/Pirate Classic came to a close with NSU's first shutout of the season. The Spartans were limited to five hits but also left nine runners on base. Nevertheless, they improved to 7-10 on the season.
 
Halford went to 3-6 on the year after pitching the first five innings of the game. She allowed one hit and walked one over that time, while Buffington earned her first save of the season after allowing one hit over the final two frames.
 
South Carolina State fell to 0-8 on the season. The Bulldogs lost despite a solid outing from Jada Lake, who allowed five hits and three runs, two earned, with four walks in six innings of work.
 
Sophomore Jazzmaine Hammond give NSU the first lead of the game with a sac fly to center in the bottom of the second, scoring fellow sophomore Tuli Iosefa. The Spartans left the bases loaded that frame and later two in the fourth. They did add another run in the fourth inning when senior Hunter Halford homered on the first pitch to lead off the inning.
 
The Spartans had chances in the sixth inning as well. Sophomore Jade Dixon doubled to left field with one out, benefitting from Bulldog left fielder Paige Owens slipping on the grass. Dixon went to third on a passed ball and then scored when the Bulldogs tried to get her out at home on a ball hit to the second baseman.
 
Lake got out of the inning, but S.C. State went down in order in the seventh.
 
Dixon finished 2-for-3, the only player with more than one hit.
 
The Spartans will play Albany at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday followed by Iona during the last day of the tournament.