NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State softball team split its series against South Carolina State on Saturday, winning game one, 5-3, and dropping game two, 13-3, at the NSU Softball Field.
The Spartans (7-12, 1-1 MEAC) took an early lead in game one after a sacrifice bunt by freshman pitcher Amaya McPherson gave them a 1-0 lead. McPherson scored Kailey Bryant who had walked in her previous at-bat.
Emory Shorts hit a single up the middle to give Norfolk State a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring Qween Olivia Edmonds from third. Edmonds reached on a bunt single, advanced to second on a throw, and then stole third to get into scoring position.
The Bulldogs put a run up in the top of the second, but insurance runs by Norfolk State in the fourth, fifth, and sixth reassured no lead was given up.
In the fourth, Riddick led off with a double to center field that almost went over for a homerun. Victoria Taylor came in to pinch run for Riddick, running in to score on Kachelle Refour's at-bat when she reached on a fielding error by the Bulldog's first baseman.
The top of the fifth the Bulldogs brought it within one run, 3-2, but the Spartans would put one run up themselves in the bottom of the inning. The Spartans collected three singles and drew one walk in the bottom of the fifth. Riddick's single up the middle with the bases loaded gave the Spartans a 4-2 lead.
The Bulldogs kept fighting with a run scored in the top of the sixth to cut into the Spartans lead, but a run in the bottom secured the Spartans their victory. Refour led off the inning with a single to the left side. Bryant advanced Refour a base with a sacrifice hit to the third baseman. Refour advanced to third on a fielding error by the Bulldog's pitcher that put Michalak on.
Michalak would go on to steal second. Edmonds would score Refour from third on a sacrifice hit, as the Spartans would go on to win, 5-3. McPherson, received the win, after pitching 5.1 innings, with only three earned runs against 25 batters.
The Bulldogs won game two after scoring 13 runs through the fifth and the seventh innings behind 15 hits.
The Spartans continue their series against South Carolina State on Sunday in a single game at 11 a.m. They head to Hampton, Va. to face in-state rival Hampton on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 12 p.m.
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