WASHINGTON, D.C. – Playing games a day earlier than originally scheduled did not phase the Norfolk State softball team as the Spartans took two of three from Howard to open MEAC play in the National Capitol. NSU split its two games with the Bison on Friday before winning a run-rule game to conclude the weekend series.
After making the quick turnaround from a midweek double-header against Hampton, the Spartans opened up their first MEAC contest of the season. Howard got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first with a fielders' choice RBI. NSU would take its first lead of the game the following half inning.
With two outs, Rylie Gilbreath hit a double to center field and Yrral Davis decided to trade places with her with a double of her own to center to tie the game up at one run a piece. After Davis stole third and Morgan Johnson walked, the two used the next pitch to steal another based to give NSU the 2-1 lead.
The Bison answered in the bottom half of the inning after loading the bases, Lealani Ricks hit a triple to clear the bases of their previous occupants and give HU the 4-2 lead. Ricks would score herself on a wild pitch to put the Bison lead at three after two.
After a scoreless third for both teams, NSU would score at least two runs in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Elizabeth Ritchie hit a single to center field and score Imani Moore from third. Lily Potter followed up with a groundout to third, but Gilbreath reached home on the play to bring the Spartans within one after four.
Higa and Gabby Vaughan opened up the fifth with back-to-back singles before Gilbreath grounded out to the shortstop, scoring Higa. Davis hit into a groundout to second base scoring Victoria Ruiz from third and give the Spartans their second and final lead of the game. In the sixth, Potter and Alison Guckin opened up with back-to-back doubles to help NSU score three runs in the inning to extend their lead to 9-5.
To close out the game, Morgan Johnson singled through the right side and Potter reached on a double to center. After Guckin walked, Iosefa smacked a ball to center scoring all three baserunners. The Bison went four up, three down to give NSU the game one win.
The Spartans had 14 hits in the game to just eight for HU in the first game of the day.
However, game two was the complete opposite. The only run the Spartans would score against the Bison in game two came in the top of the first on a bases-loaded walk. Howard went on to score two runs in the first, two in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth. Analise De La Roca threw a complete game, no-hitter against the Spartans in the 9-1, 5-inning win for the Bison.
In the rubber game of the series, it seemed that the Spartans had turned everything around, scoring two runs in the top of the first when Iosefa hit a home run over 10 feet above the left field fence scoring both herself and Guckin, who had previously walked. The bottom of the inning would see HU have two hits of their own and scoring three runs of a groundout and a sacrifice fly.
In the second inning, both Gilbreath and Davis reached on errors by the shortstop to put runners on both first and second. Johnson loaded the bases with a single to right before all three advanced one base on a passed ball while Potter was at the plate. After Potter walked, Guckin would take a ball to deep left center, that nearly cleared the fence, scoring three runs and giving the Spartans the 6-3 lead. Guckin would score later in the inning off a Kenna Higa single to center. HU would bring it back within two after platting a run in the second with the Spartans leading 6-4.
Neither team found much traction in the third with the Spartans hitting into three groundouts and Howard going three up, three down including a batter's interference to the catcher.
The fourth saw Potter hit a triple to deep center to lead off before scoring on a wild pitch. Guckin scored on a Higa sacrifice fly with one out to push the lead to five at 9-4. The Bison got one back I the bottom of the fourth when Shalon McNeal was caught stealing second, scoring Natalie Davila from third.
With the 9-5 lead heading into the seventh, the bats came alive for the Spartans. Moore led off with a single to left and stole second. After Gilbreath flew out to right, Davis hit a deep ball to right field to score Moore. After Davis reached third on a wild pitch, Loren Hudson hit a high slap over the shortstop's head to score Davis. The Bison would bring in their third pitcher of the game, walking Potter before Guckin grounded out to second base and putting runners on second and third for NSU. Iosefa would load the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Higa then had a 2 RBI double to center and pushing the Spartans' lead to 13-5. A hard-hit ball for Vaughan down the right field line scored two more runs for NSU before the Bison could get the third out, forcing HU to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth to continue the game.
Two groundouts and a strikeout swinging ended the game after just five innings and the Spartans winning 16-5.
Higa had three hits and four RBIs in the game to go along with Iosefa's home run. Both Potter and Guckin had two at bats, scored three runs, and walked twice for NSU. Joana Vallejo got the win in 3.0 innings pitched. Alexis Robinson closed out the game in the circle with 2.0 innings and three strikeouts.
The Spartans (15-13, 2-1 MEAC) will return home on Saturday, March 26 when they host Morgan State in a MEAC series, beginning with a double header at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 27 will feature a single game against the Bears beginning at 12 p.m. at the NSU Softball Field to close out the weekend.
