NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State softball team came up short in part two of the Battle of the Bay matchup with Hampton, falling 4-3 at the NSU Softball FIeld on Tuesday afternoon..

The Spartans (18-17, 11-4 MEAC) split the season series against the Pirates (13-25, 4-14 CAA) after winning the first matchups between the schools, 13-4 on Mar. 18 in Hampton.

Emory Shorts secured two RBIs with a triple in the bottom of the sixth inning. Maddy Morris recorded a multi-hit performance, whilst also pitching 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, and two earned runs to go, along with three strikeouts.

Norfolk State started off hot. We took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a groundout sacrifice from Kailey Bryant to score Qween Edmonds, who reached on a fielding error.

Behind 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Norfolk State took the lead after Emory Shorts hit a two-run triple. The clutch at-bat sent NSU to the seventh inning with a 3-2 advantage.

The Pirates fought back, though, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh. Hampton held the Spartans scoreless in their final offensive effort, securing the victory.

Norfolk State hosts MEAC foe Coppin State this weekend starting with a Breast Cancer Awareness Day doubleheader on Friday. Game one is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

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