NORFOLK STATE – Coppin State's softball team suffered a pair of losses to Norfolk State University on the final day of their weekend series opening MEAC play on Saturday, March 20
th. The Lady Eagles fell in a close 5-4 decision in game one before being shutout 8-0 in game two of the double header.
In game one, the Lady Eagles led in a tight battle with Norfolk State 5-4 heading into the seventh and final inning. Norfolk State scored two runs, on two hits, with an error by the Lady Eagles defense as they pulled away with a 6-4 victory.
The Lady Eagles had three runs on two hits in the first inning. Senior infielder
Danielle Smith led the inning off with a double to right center field. Smith scored on the next play, an RBI bunt by freshman infielder
Megan Narvaez (1-0). Narvaez was the next Lady Eagle to score on a passed ball by NSU (2-0). A throwing error by the Spartans led to the third run of the inning with senior outfielder
Michele Saunders crossing the plate.
In the next inning Coppin State took a 4-1 lead as freshman infielder
Hatika James scored on a dropped fly ball by the NSU defense. Norfolk State responded with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning making it a 4-3 CSU advantage. CSU's final run came in the fourth inning on a throwing error that allowed James to reach home from second base.
From there the Spartans fought their way back into the game with runs in the fifth and seventh innings pulling away late 5-4.
Megan Narvaez had the Lady Eagles only RBI of the game. She also had a hit and scored a run.
Danielle Smith had a double and scored a run while both Dakota Gatrell and
Shelby Mendoza each had single base hits. Pitcher
Melanie Benge tossed 6.1 innings striking out three Spartans.
In the second game of the double header Norfolk State defeated Coppin State 8-0 sweeping the weekend series. The Lady Eagles were held to only two hits by Dakota Gatrell and
Cayla Brown. Gatrell pitched four innings and struck out two batters at the mound. The Spartans dominated game two with four runs in the first inning, one run in the second inning, two in the third inning, and one run in the fourth inning.
Coppin State falls to 0-13, 0-3 after the weekend series while the Spartans improve to 8-10, 3-0. The Lady Eagles return to action on Tuesday, March 22
nd with a double header at Mount St. Mary's beginning at 2:00 p.m.
