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Softball Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletics Communications

#5 Morgan State Defeats #4Norfolk State In MEAC Championship Opener, 6-3

NORFOLK, Va. (May 6, 2026)--The fifth-seeded Morgan State softball team, under the guidance of first-year head coach Melisa Shock, began the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship with a 6-3 opening round win on Wednesday morning over host Norfolk State, which was the fourth seed.
 
With the win, Morgan State advances to the quarterfinal round and will return to TowneBank Softball Field this evening to face defending champion and top seed Howard at 5 p.m. Norfolk State falls into the loser's bracket and, pending weather conditions, will play again on Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m.
 
Morgan State (15-26) struck first in the first inning when Hunter Newman singled to left center to score Olivia Garner for a 1-0 lead.
 
The score would remain that way until the fourth inning when Garner singled back to the pitcher to score Nia Lewis, and Denver Obermyer scored on a throwing error to up the lead to 3-0.
 
With the confidence continuing to grow and solid pitching by Millie Cousins and stellar defensive play, the Lady Bears went back to work, adding three more runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 6-0.
 
Garner started the sixth inning scoring when she singled off the pitcher's leg to score Obermyer. With bases still loaded, Cousins walked to score Lewis. Newman flied out to left field, which allowed Cassie White to score the sixth run of the game.



 
The Spartans (22-20) finally got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth when Bristyl Riddick hit a two-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Kailey Bryant doubled to left in the seventh inning to score Kachelle Refour for the third run.
 
Morgan State would end the game with Alison Keener throwing out Bryant at third base, trying to steal for the game's final out.
 
Cousins (10-10) got the win for Morgan State, tossing three strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.
Norfolk State's Maddy Morris (11-7) was tagged with the loss.
 
Garner led the Lady Bears, going 2-for-2 with a run, a game-high 3 RBI and two walks. Lewis finished 2-for-3 with two runs and Obermyer also recorded two hits and scored twice. Olivia Pagano tallied two hits.
 
 
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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.
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Millie Cousins

#7 Millie Cousins

P/2B
5' 5"
Junior
Olivia Garner

#28 Olivia Garner

1B/OF
5' 6"
Sophomore
Alison Keener

#98 Alison Keener

C
5' 6"
Senior
Nia Lewis

#1 Nia Lewis

OF/1B
5' 9"
Senior
Hunter Newman

#23 Hunter Newman

3B
5' 5"
Junior
Olivia Pagano

#0 Olivia Pagano

OF
5' 7"
Sophomore
Cassie White

#4 Cassie White

OF
5' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Millie Cousins

#7 Millie Cousins

5' 5"
Junior
P/2B
Olivia Garner

#28 Olivia Garner

5' 6"
Sophomore
1B/OF
Alison Keener

#98 Alison Keener

5' 6"
Senior
C
Nia Lewis

#1 Nia Lewis

5' 9"
Senior
OF/1B
Hunter Newman

#23 Hunter Newman

5' 5"
Junior
3B
Olivia Pagano

#0 Olivia Pagano

5' 7"
Sophomore
OF
Cassie White

#4 Cassie White

5' 0"
Senior
OF