ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Nine different Norfolk State softball players collected at least one hit as the Spartans completed the MEAC series sweep of South Carolina State on Sunday afternoon with a 15-7 win in six innings on the road.
Lily Potter opened the game with a double to center field and Imani Moore followed up with a bunt single in which she reached second. After a ground out to the shortstop, Gabby Vaughan hit the second double of the game to center field that score both Moore and Potter and gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead after one inning.
In the top of the second inning, with one out, Yrral Davis walked before a flyout put two outs on the board. After stealing second, Davis advanced to third when fielding error on a batted ball by Morgan Johnson allowed the inning to continue. One wild pitch later and Davis scored to put the visitors up 3-0.
The third inning saw the most action of the day. Moore led off with a bunt single and Kenna Higa hit a double down the left field line to score Moore. Loren Hudson then collected a single up the middle that scored Higa from second. Davis followed up with a triple to right field that allowed Hudson to score and put the Spartans ahead, 6-0.
The bottom half of the inning saw the Bulldogs make a push back with four runs on two hits to bring the score within two after three complete.
NSU would match the runs from the previous half inning in the top of the fourth. Johnson led off with a double down the left field line and Moore singled up the middle while Johnson scored. Higa continued the hot streak with a double to right field that plated Moore from third. Vaughan then collected her third home run of the season scoring two more runs and put the Spartans back on top by six at 10-4.
The fifth inning saw SCSU pull within three runs off of three hits. After Makenzie McDaniel reached on a fielding error, three straight singles by the Bulldogs plated three runs for the hosts. But the ball never reached the outfield again with a line and ground out to the shortstop and a line out to second ended the inning.
Not to be outdone, Moore led off the sixth with a walk and stole second. A fly out to left field put Moore at third. Elizabeth Ritchie then collected a single up the middle followed by walks to both Alison Guckin and Hudson to load the bases. Victoria Taylor came in to pinch run for Hudson at first before Davis singled down the right field line scoring both Guckin and Ritchie and allowing Taylor to reach third. After Davis stole second, Cam Andersen, who pinch hit for Gilbreath, flied out to right field but allowed Taylor score and Davis to reach third. A wild pitch later scored Davis and put the Spartans up by eight.
The Bulldogs looked to extend the game, but after a walk and single, SCSU hit into a double play and a groundout to first ended the game after just six innings.
Moore led NSU for the second day in a row with three hits and scoring four runs. Higa, Vaughan, and Davis also each collected multiple hits on the day. Brierra Tyler got the win from the circle with two strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Spartans (24-15, 9-3 MEAC) return to action next weekend when they host North Carolina Central in MEAC series. Game one of the doubleheader against the Eagles on Friday, April 15 will be shown live on ESPNU.
