NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play this weekend against Delaware State at the NSU Softball Field following a midweek home matchup against the Longwood Lancers.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow all games this week through live stats on the NSU website.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 11 – vs. Longwood | 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 – vs. Delaware State (DH) | 1 & 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 – vs. Delaware State | Noon
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
The Spartans enter Wednesday's contest against Longwood with an 8-8 overall record after going 1-4 at the Spartan Round Up last weekend against North Dakota, FDU and Holy Cross.
Bristyl Riddick leads Norfolk State offensively with a .396 batting average through 16 games. She tops the team in hits (19), home runs (5), RBIs (17) and total bases (36), while also posting a .431 on-base percentage and a team-best .750 slugging percentage.
Aniyah Michalak (.370), Maddy Morris (.370) and Kailey Bryant (.315) also rank among the Spartans' top hitters, each collecting 17 hits this season. Morris ranks second on the team in home runs (4), RBIs (15) and total bases (31).
In the circle, Bryant and Morris share pitching duties alongside Jaiden Henderson, Sam Stevenson and Amaya McPherson. Morris leads the staff with 39.1 innings pitched, while Bryant has logged 31.2 innings. Stevenson has thrown 19 innings, Henderson 15 and McPherson six. As a staff, the Spartans hold a 2.96 ERA, with Morris posting a 1.96 ERA and a 4-3 record with 22 strikeouts.
SCOUTING LONGWOOD
The Lancers enter Wednesday's matchup with an 11-15 record and a one-game winning streak after defeating Lafayette during the Longwood Spring Break Classic. Longwood finished 3-3 in the tournament with additional wins over Le Moyne (7-1) and Youngstown State (4-2).
Brooke Bennett leads the Lancers with a .373 batting average across 25 starts. In 67 at-bats, Bennett has recorded 25 hits, including four doubles, one triple and seven home runs, while driving in 21 RBIs. She also owns a .776 slugging percentage and a .455 on-base percentage.
Brooke Masingale (.341), Maggie Hiatt (.320) and Sophia Knock (.311) also carry batting averages above .300. Knock ranks second on the team with 23 hits while adding 13 runs scored and 16 RBIs.
SCOUTING DELAWARE STATE
The Hornets enter the weekend with a 5-9 overall record and are coming off a 4-3 victory over Towson. Delaware State earned its first win of the season with a 5-0 shutout over Mount St. Mary's and has also faced Manhattan and No. 24 Virginia in early-season competition.
The Hornets feature a young roster with 17 underclassmen and just seven upperclassmen. Junior pitcher Kristin White, a 2025 All-MEAC selection, leads the returning group. White has pitched 21.2 innings this season, allowing 31 runs (28 earned) on 33 hits with 17 walks and 17 strikeouts.
Offensively, Mianna Lopes Del Haro leads Delaware State with a .313 batting average, the only Hornet hitting above .300. She has recorded 10 hits in 32 at-bats with two runs scored and two RBIs, while adding two doubles and one home run to lead the team with 16 total bases.
SERIES HISTORY
Norfolk State and Longwood have met 26 times since the series began in 2005, with the Lancers holding an undefeated record in the matchup.
Since the series began in 1998, Norfolk State holds a narrow 40-35 advantage over Delaware State. The Spartans swept the Hornets in the regular season last year before falling to DSU in the opening round of the MEAC Softball Tournament.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's conference opener, Norfolk State returns to MEAC action on March 21-22 with its first road trip of the 2026 season against Maryland Eastern Shore. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m., with Sunday's finale set for noon.
