Mi’Shon King went 4 for 4 with an RBI and No. 3 seed Delaware State took advantage of two errors in the top of eighth inning to take the lead and knock off No. 2 seed and host Norfolk State 3-2 on the first day of the MEAC Softball Championship on Wednesday at the NSU Softball Field.
The Spartans (21-22) fall into the loser’s bracket and will play No. 5 seed North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. Thursday in an elimination game. No. 4 seed Morgan State edged North Carolina Central 4-3 earlier Wednesday.
NSU starting pitcher Kailey Bryant allowed one run on six hits in seven innings.
Kira Turner put the Spartans in front 1-0 with a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth inning. The score stayed that way until the top of the seventh, when Chandler Martin hit a run-scoring groundout to tie it.
The Hornets (26-21) loaded the bases against NSU reliever Amaya McPherson (9-8) in the top of the eighth on Destiny Mitchell’s single and two Spartans fielding errors on bunts. Emma Crowe followed with an RBI single to center to make it 2-1. One out later, King hit an RBI single to left for what turned out to be a crucial insurance run.
The Spartans tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth as Qween Edmonds hit a one-out double and Lauren Sheehan drove her in with a single to right-center to slice the deficit to 3-2. But Delaware State reliever Kaylanie Rodriguez got Ennovi Sandoval to ground into a fielder’s choice and Kailey Bryant to fly out to end it.
Delaware State 4, South Carolina State 1: Kristin White tossed a two-hitter and Mi’Shon King hit a two-run homer to lead the No. 3 seed Hornets past the No. 6 seed Bulldogs.
White (11-6) struck out 10, walked three and allowed an unearned run in a complete game.
King’s homer put Delaware State ahead to stay at 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Morgan State 4, North Carolina Central 3: Gianna Ettore went 3 for 3 with two RBIs as No. 4 seed Morgan State edged No. 5 seed North Carolina Central.
Thursday’s games
At NSU Softball Field
- No. 2 Norfolk State vs. No. 5 N.C. Central, 2 p.m.
- No. 6 S.C. State vs. Howard-Morgan State loser, 5 p.m.
- No. 3 Delaware State vs. Howard-Morgan State, 8 p.m.
