NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University softball team completed the series against Youngstown State with a doubleheader sweep winning game one 3-0 and taking game two 5-3 on Tuesday at the NSU Softball Field.
The Spartans (3-1) shut out the Penguins (1-3) in game one of the day two doubleheader claiming a 3-0 victory. After a scoreless first inning for both teams, NSU put up a single run in the bottom of the second to find its way onto the scoreboard. Morgan Johnson grounded out to the shortstop to drive in Jade Dixon for the run.
The next two innings saw neither team score while Norfolk State scored a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth as Dixon drove in Victoria Ruiz after doubling to right center field and Lauren Sheehan reached on a fielding error by the first baseman which sent Dixon in for her second run of the game.
The Spartans sent six of the next seven Penguins back to the dugout with one runner stranded as NSU claimed game one, 3-0. Pitcher Alexis Robinson threw a complete game giving up three hits while striking out three batters.
Game two saw the first two innings go scoreless before Youngstown State put two runs on the board in the top of the third inning. Norfolk State responded in the bottom of the third with a trio of runs courtesy of three consecutive singles from Gabby Vaughan, Cam Andersen, and Alison Guckin that drove in Imani Moore, Victoria Ruiz, and Vaughan to put NSU ahead 3-2.
The Penguins evened the score in the top of the fifth inning at three runs all following a bunt single RBI. The Spartans had an answer in the bottom half of the inning as Leah Wisswell hit a double to left field that drove in Andersen and Guckin to put NSU back in the lead, 5-3.
Norfolk State held Youngstown State to a pair of three-up and three-down innings en route to completing the sweep.
The Spartans (3-1) return to the field on Friday, February 17, when they co-host the NSU-Hampton Classic at the NSU Softball Field. Norfolk State will face Bucknell on Friday at 5 PM. They turn around and take on UMass-Lowell and Georgetown on Saturday at 10 AM and 3 PM respectively, and conclude action on Sunday at 12:30 PM against Wagner.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @NSUSpartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
