Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The Norfolk State University softball team dropped both games on Saturday at the Purple/Gold Invitational in Greenville, N.C. The Spartans fell to the Pirates of East Carolina 7-5 in the their game of the day, while dropping game two 17-7 to the Minutewomen from the University of Massachusetts.

East Carolina got out to a 7-1 lead through the fourth inning, but a late four-run rally pulled the Spartans within two, however, the rally fell short running out of innings as the Pirates claimed the win. 

Rylie Gilbreath led the game with a pair of RBI and a run of her own after going 2-of-3 at the plate. Senior Alexis Robinson received the loss in the circle giving up seven runs on 11 hits while walking two and striking out one. 

Norfolk State left a pair of runners on the bases twice missing opportunities to send runners across home plate in the second and seventh innings.

The Spartans were on the defensive from the very beginning of game two as the Minutewomen posted a four run top of the first and added two more in the second taking a 6-0 lead. 

NSU answered with four runs in the bottom of the second but fell behind again as UMass put up another eight runs taking a 14-4 lead. A two-run home run from Gabby Vaughan capped off a three run bottom of the fourth, but Massachusetts responded with three of their own in the fifth taking a 10-run lead, 17-7, and claiming the win. 

Norfolk State takes to the field again tomorrow to complete action at Purple-Gold Invitational hosted by East Carolina University. The Spartans will face the Minutewomen from Massachusetts at 9 AM and the Pirates of ECU at 11:30 AM.

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