BALTIMORE, Md. – Norfolk State softball opened its MEAC season on Saturday with a pair of losses at Morgan State. NSU fell 1-0 in the first game before dropping a 5-2 decision in the second game at Lois T. Murray Field.
 
The Spartans managed just two hits in game 1 while wasting a solid effort in the circle from sophomore Cam Andersen. The Bears scored all five of their game 2 runs in the first two innings to drop the Spartans to 7-9 overall on the season, 0-2 in the league.
 
Andersen (4-2) took the loss despite allowing just four hits and one unearned run. MSU's only run came when Haylee Bobos hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Senior Jazzmaine Hammond had one of NSU's two hits in that contest and then batted 2-for-3 in the second. Freshman Yrral Davis also had a pair of hits in two at bats as the Spartans tried to rally late.
 
The Bears scored three runs in the first, two on an RBI single from Bobos, and then two more on one play in the second. Sophomore Denisha Megginson had made it 3-1 with an RBI double in the top of the second, and Vaughan's solo homer to lead off the fourth got the Spartans to within three at 5-2.
 
The Spartans, however, left a pair of runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings. Davis hit an RBI single in the seventh for the final 5-3 margin, but again two more runners were stranded as MSU held on for the win.
 
Sophomore Kirsten Greene and freshman Kennedy Cameron combined for four scoreless innings in relief, striking out six without allowing a hit.
 
Morgan State (3-1 overall, 2-0 MEAC) got a pair of solid pitching performances to sweep the doubleheader. Stephanie Rundlett (1-1) allowed two hits in all seven innings in game 1 with four strikeouts. Mikayla Barnard (2-0) struck out 11 and allowed three runs, two earned, in the second contest.
 
The two teams will play two more games on Sunday beginning at 12 p.m.