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Tuli Iosefa vs. Hampton
Nick Sutton | KineticStills.com
1
Coppin State CSU 7-36
8
Winner Norfolk State NSU 32-21
Coppin State CSU
7-36
1
Final
8
Norfolk State NSU
32-21
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Coppin State CSU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4
Norfolk State NSU 2 0 2 0 1 3 X 8 11 0

W: Vallejo, Joana (9-4) L: CARRIZOSA,V. (1-18)

Game Recap: Softball | | Thomas Wehner, Assoc. SID

Iosefa Sets Home Run Record As Spartans Open MEAC Tournament With 8-1 Win Over CSU

NORFOLK, Va. – After tying the career home run record in the regular-season finale, Tuli Iosefa crushed two home runs in the No. 3 seed Norfolk State softball team's opening game of the 2022 MEAC Softball Championship against No. 6 seed Coppin State. The Spartans beat the Eagles 8-1 to advance to take on No. 2 seed Howard.

The win against CSU also marked the 32nd of the season for the Spartans, setting a new Division I season win record, previously set in 2013.

The Eagles got on the board first when Bella Zalba hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that brough home Vanessa Carrizosa in the top of first. However, the lead did not last long as the Spartans answered back in the bottom half of inning when Iosefa broke the home-run record on the first pitch she saw with a hit over the left center field fence. On the very next pitch that a Spartan saw, Kenna Higa hit her ninth of the season over the right center field fence to put NSU ahead 2-0 after one.

After a scoreless second, Iosefa led off the third with a single to centerfield and reached second on an error. A muffed catch at first allowed Higa to reach and Iosefa to reach third. A single up the middle by Gabby Vaughan allowed all runners to advance one base and put the Spartans ahead, 3-1. Higa would come around and score on a sacrifice fly by Yrral Davis to extend the lead to three after three.

In the fifth, Lily Potter scored on a Davis double to right after reaching on a fielders' choice to put the Spartans ahead by four after five complete. With one out in the sixth, Morgan Johnson singled down the left field line. Alison Guckin followed up with single to right center to put Johnson on second. Iosefa then crushed her second home run of the game over the center field fence for a three-run shot and put NSU up 8-1. She now has 11 home runs this season and 31 for her career.

Cam Andersen came into pitch for Joana Vallejo in the seventh and sat the Eagles down in order giving the Spartans the win. Vallejo pitched 4.2 innings and finished with five strikeouts to get the win.  
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