NORFOLK, Va. – A costly error in the sixth allowed what proved to be the game-winning run to cross the plate as the Norfolk State softball team earned a 6-5 win over the University of Pennsylvania to close out action at the Battle at the Bay. The Spartans finished the weekend going 2-2 with the win over the Quakers as well as a no-hitter against Wagner on Friday afternoon.
The Spartans got things started in the first inning when senior Cam Andersen retired the first three batters she faced with a strikeout. It was then the offensive's turn as senior Alison Guckin picked up a walk. On the next pitch to senior Gabby Vaughan, she stole second and later in the at bat beat a throw down to third to collect another stolen base.
After collecting a 3-1 count, redshirt senior Tuli Iosefa smacked a double down the left field line that scored the first run of the game and gave the Spartans 1-0 lead. NSU was able to load the bases, but Penn was able to get a groundout to end the inning.
After a scoreless second, Bella Fiorentino hit the first pitch of the third and dropped the ball over the left field fence to tie the game up at 1-1. After the Quakers got a walk, Penn hit a single up the middle that allowed the visitors to take a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth.
With a fly out to start the inning, the Quakers took advantage of a hit batter when Brianna Brown triple down the left field line to extend the lead to 3-1 before the Spartans closed out the top of the frame.
The bottom half of the inning saw the Spartans retake the lead with three runs on four hits. Junior Loren Hudson hit a single down the right field line with one out before freshman Hannah Jessie pinch ran for the designated player. After reaching second on a stolen base, Jessie advanced to third on a single by classmate Kenna Higa up the middle. Not wanting to allow a run across, the Quakers did not throw down to second when Higa stole the base to put two runners in scoring position. Both runners advanced with Jessie scoring on a wild pitch to pull the Spartans within one.
Junior Morgan Johnson flight out to shallow right field to put two outs on the scoreboard. Potter was next up and hit a single to the shortstop and reach second on a throwing error allowing Higa to score and tie the game up at 3-3. A single by Guckin up the middle scored Potter from second to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead.
Neither team was able to plate a run in the fifth. With one out in the sixth, the Quakers used a pair of Spartan errors on the same play to score a runner from second and tie the game up at 4-4. NSU would answer back in the sixth. Again, with one out, Hudson hit a single this time to the shortstop. A hard-hit double to center field that reached the fence by Higa allowed pinch runner Brianna Rucker to race around the bases to give the Spartans the lead once again, 5-4; Higa advanced to third on the throw home. An error by the shortstop allowed Higa to score when the fielder lifted her glove allowing the ball to go into left-center field and giving the Spartans a 6-4 advantage heading into the seventh inning.
Penn attempted to rally scoring a single run in the top of the final inning, but junior Alexis Robinson closed out the win with a strikeout from the circle.
NSU (8-5) will host its final early season tournament next weekend with the Spartan-Pirate Clash, once again co-hosted with Hampton. The Spartans will host two games each day. On Friday, NSU hosts Rider at 2 p.m. and UMass Lowell at 4 p.m. Saturday's games feature a 10 a.m. game against Bryant and a 2 p.m. game against Rider. On Sunday, the Spartans host Bryant one last time at 10 a.m. and Drexel at 12 noon.
