NORFOLK, Va. (March 27, 2022)—The Morgan State softball team completed a series victory over host Norfolk State on Sunday, following a 6-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win in the finale at NSU Softball Field.
Morgan State (13-10, 5-1 MEAC) extended its unbeaten MEAC series streak to 10 consecutive series without losing a series dating back to the 2019 campaign. The 2020 season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During that stretch the Lady Bears have won eight series outright and had two series ties against Maryland Eastern Shore (4/19-20/19) and last season against Howard (4/10-11/21).
The Lady Bears' last series loss came against Norfolk State during the 2019 season, as they dropped two of the three meetings.
On Sunday, Morgan State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when
Mia Ewell scored on a wild pitch and
Aliya Ewell later scored on a throw when
Asia Thomas stole second.
The Spartans (16-15, 3-3 MEAC) cut the Morgan lead in half in the bottom of the first when Kenna Higa singled up the middle to score Imani Moore, making it a 2-1 game.
The Lady Bears responded with two more runs in the third when both
Aliya Ewell and Thomas both stole third and second, respectively and Ewell scored on an error by the Norfolk catcher. Thomas then scored when
Victoria Fletcher grounded out to third, to put the Lady Bears ahead 4-1.
Morgan State went back to work in the fourth, scoring two more runs to increase its cushion to five runs.
Deborah Hamilton stole second and then scored on an error by the catcher.
Aliya Ewell then homered to left field to give the guests a 6-1 lead.
Norfolk State rounded out the scoring when Rylie Gilbreath scored on a throwing error in the sixth inning to make it a 6-2 game.
Melissa Paz got the win for Morgan State and improved to 2-2 on the season. Paz, who pitched 4.2 innings of relief, allowed one run on two hits and struck out five batters. Norfolk State's Cam Anderson (1-6) tallied three strikeouts, four walks and surrendered four runs on two hits in the loss.
The Lady Bears were led by
Aliya Ewell, who went 1-for-2 with a homer and three runs scored. Aliya and Thomas each recorded two walks.
Allison Guckin led the Spartans with two hits. Moore and Gilbreath each scored a run.
Morgan State will return to non-conference play when they travel to crosstown foe Towson (9-16, 0-3 CAA) on Wednesday, March 30 to take on the Tigers in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Tiger Softball Stadium.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified
high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's
Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus
designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University,
