NORFOLK, Va. – For the third time this season the Norfolk State softball team used last inning heroics to win in walk-off fashion as freshman Kenna Higa hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh for the win over Wagner in the first game of the Battle at the Bay.

In the win, the Spartans collected their first no-hitter when senior Joana Vallejo and junior Alexis Robinson prevented the WC batters from finding the open field. It marked the first time since April 9, 2006, that NSU threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Howard.

Neither team found much traction for potential runs throughout the game. Junior Imani Moore collected the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third. Higa and senior Alison Guckin walked to start off the inning. After inducing a popup for the first out, Eve Harvey gave up the first hit of the game to Moore, a shallow shot to left center that loaded the bases. A short fly out to center and a groundout to the pitcher ended the inning with NSU leaving the bases loaded.

Neither team had more than four batters come up to the plate again until the bottom of the seventh. Junior Morgan Johnson hit a pop foul ball that the first baseman caught, and redshirt sophomore Yrral Davis flied out to left field to get two outs.

Senior Gabby Vaughan came in to pinch hit for junior Elizabeth Ritchie. Vaughan worked out of a 1-2 count to get the walk. Higa then stepped up to the plate and took the first ball she saw and hit it more than 10 feet above the left field fence for the walk off win.

Vallejo pitched the first 1.2 innings striking out two before Robinson came in and pitched the final 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. The duo also only allowed one walk.

The Spartans (7-3) return to the NSU Softball Field on Saturday for a pair of games. The Spartans face off against the Penguins of Youngstown State at 10 a.m. and play again at 2 p.m. against the Quakers of Penn. All games are part of the Battle at the Bay that is being hosted by both NSU and Hampton, on both campuses.