BALTIMORE, Md. (April 24, 2023)--The Morgan State softball team bounced back from its series opening loss to South Carolina State on Saturday, by defeating the visiting Bulldogs, 6-1 in Game 1 of a scheduled Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader on Sunday morning at Lois T. Murray Field.
 
The Lady Bears (21-19, 12-4 MEAC) were also leading the second game of the day, 4-2 when it was called following the conclusion of the top of the fifth inning. There are no further details on the status of that game at this time.
 
Sunday's game was also Senior Day at Morgan State, as its three seniors, Asia Thomas, Madison Nunez and Deborah Hamilton were honored prior to the start of the second game.
 
Coming off its second straight home loss and the fourth this season, following the loss to SC State the day before, Morgan State regrouped on Sunday, scoring six runs on seven hits. The Lady Bears jumped on the guests with three runs in the first inning. Mia Ewell scored the first run when Melissa Paz reached on a fielding error. Gianna Ettore singled to right center with bases loaded to score Paz and Alison Keener for the 3-0 lead.
 
Morgan State's next two runs each came by way of errors on SC State in the third and fourth innings. Hamilton, stole third and scored on a throwing error by the Bulldog catcher to give Morgan the 4-0 lead. The next run was nearly identical, this time it was Chandler Mitchell stealing third base in the fourth inning and scoring on the play on a throwing error on the catcher to increase Morgan's lead to 5-0.
 
The Lady Bears sixth and final run came in the fifth inning when Maia Wilkins pinch running for Paz scored to extend the cushion to 6-0.
 
South Carolina State (), which finished with a run on seven hits, while also committing seven errors, got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, when Jamaisha Prince singled to left field to score Marissa Marshall for the 6-1 final.
 
SC State was led by Zarria Smith (2-for-2) and Destiny Calloway (2-for-3). Marshall finished 1-for-3 at the place with a run.
 
The Lady Bulldogs' Kenniayah Miller was charged with the loss. She pitched three innings, surrendering four runs on four hits. Smith pitched three innings in relief and gave up two runs on three hits.
 
Ettore finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk to lead the Lady Bears. Paz was 2-for-3 with a run and Ewell was 1-for-2 with a run and a walk.
 
Morgan State starting pitcher Victoria Fletcher improved to 8-4 with the win. Fletcher went 6.1 innings, giving up a run on six hits and a walk, while striking out a game-high five batters. Emily Raubuch pitched the final two outs and recorded a strikeout and a hit.
 
The Lady Bears will look to close out the MEAC regular season slate this weekend when it visits the Eagles of North Carolina Central (April 29-30) for a chance to possibly claim the league's regular season title. The series gets underway with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29 at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game on Sunday, April 30 at 12 p.m. All three games will be played at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C.
 
Morgan State currently sits atop the MEAC standings with a 12-4 league record. Norfolk State, which Morgan State swept this season, is in second at 12-5, while NCCU is in third at 11-5. NCCU and Norfolk State will meet this Thursday, April 27 at noon in Cary, N.C. to conclude their series from April 15-16. The two split the doubleheader that weekend.
 
 
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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, visit www.morgan.edu.