NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team closed out the Spartan/Pirate Classic on Sunday afternoon with a pair of wins over programs from the state of New York. The Spartans shut out Albany by a 1-0 margin in the first game before defeating Iona 6-2 in the second.
 
The last day of the three-day tournament, co-hosted by Hampton and NSU, saw the Spartans run their scoreless streak to 19 straight innings after also shutting out South Carolina State on Saturday. They did earn a very unique distinction on Sunday against the Great Danes, winning despite getting no-hit by Albany starter Maranda Jimenez.
 
Iona finally broke the scoreless streak with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, but it was too little too late against the Spartans in the last of three games of the day at the NSU Softball Field.
 
The Spartans improved to 9-10 on the season. Sophomore Skylar Swain pitched all seven innings in the win over the Great Danes (5-7), allowing four hits while running her personal record to 3-3. Jimenez (1-3) struck out six but was hurt by six walks, including two to lead off the second when the Spartans scored their lone run.
 
Freshman Gabby Vaughan and senior Hunter Halford reached base and eventually moved to second and third with one out after a sac bunt. Freshman Denisha Megginson hit one to first, but Vaughan was able to beat the throw home for the only run of the game.
 
Another walk loaded the bases, but Albany escaped after getting a force out at home and then a pop fly for the third out of the inning. Swain, meanwhile, set down nine straight batters at one point. The Great Danes got a runner to second three different times, including in the seventh on a one-out double. Swain got a pair of fly outs to end the game, including the final out on a nice diving catch by junior Shelby DesChamps.
 
Halford (4-6) picked up the win in game 2, allowing seven hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts in the first five innings of play.
 
The Spartans scored five runs in the first two innings for the early lead against Iona (0-8). A pair of singles put runners on with one out, and DesChamps scored when her steal of third resulted in a throw that went into the outfield. Vaughan then dropped a double down the right field line to score senior Kylee Lopez.
 
A single, error and hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Spartans in the second, and Lopez doubled to deep center field to clear the bases and give NSU a 5-0 lead. Freshman Jazzmaine Hammond singled in the fourth and later came home when the Gaels threw the ball away on a bunt attempt by DesChamps.
 
The Gaels finally got going in the sixth, loading the bases on three straight singles to start the inning. A pair of groundouts scored both runs, but senior relief pitcher Shannon Buffington got one more groundout and worked around a one-out single in the seventh to close out the game.
 
Lopez, Hammond and Vaughan each hit 2-for-3, and DesChamps scored two runs against the Gaels. The Spartans tagged Iona starter Samantha Bender (0-3) for seven hits and six runs, four earned.
 
The Spartans will host North Carolina A&T on Friday for a doubleheader at 4 p.m., the first of two non-conference twinbills before the start of MEAC play.