NORFOLK, Va. – Marshall's bats came alive in the latter stages of the game, leading the Thundering Herd to a 14-4 win over the Norfolk State softball team in six innings on Sunday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field.
 
The two teams wrapped up the third day of the Hampton Classic. The Spartans led 4-1 after three innings of play, but Marshall scored six runs in the fourth and seven more in the sixth to improve to 13-5 overall.
 
NSU fell to 5-8 overall on the season.
 
The Spartans answered Marshall's run in the first with two in the bottom of the frame. Senior Shelby DesChamps singled to start the inning, and junior Jazzmaine Hammond launched her third homer of the season to left for a 2-1 lead.
 
Freshman Imani Moore smacked a single to center in the third and scored on sophomore Denisha Megginson's single. Another run scored on a groundout back to the pitcher for a 4-1 lead.
 
But Marshall piled up the hits in the fourth and sixth innings. Mya Stevenson hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fourth for the Thundering Herd. They also got a pair of two-run homers in the sixth as they sent 10 runners to the plate while scoring seven.
 
Stevenson drove in five and was one of five Marshall players with five hits. Megan Stauffer (1-1) got the win in relief after allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings of work.
 
Only four of the 14 runs NSU gave up were earned.
 
NSU will next host games for the third straight weekend, beginning on Friday with UMBC and Binghamton as part of the Pirate Invitational.