Game 1
Game 2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Norfolk State softball team dropped a pair of games at the University of Virginia on Wednesday, falling 9-1 in five innings and 3-2 to the Cavaliers at The Park.

In game 1, NSU (2-11) got on the board first in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Brianeisha Eure (Virginia Beach, Va.). Virginia (10-9) tied things up in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run by Nicole Koren.

The Cavaliers exploded for six runs in the fourth inning and tacked on two more in the fifth to end the game early.

Koren picked up the win after allowing one hit and one earned run in five innings and struck out three batters. Alyssa Velazquez (Aurora, Colo.) took the loss after giving up six hits and three runs (two earned) in three innings.

Virginia took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning of game two. The Spartans answered immediately in the top of the second on an RBI single by Sarah Spanka (Virginia Beach, Va.) that scored Casey Pomeroy (Fallon, Nev.).

A single by Kennedy Byxbee scored two runs for the Cavaliers in the third to give them a 2-1 lead. NSU tried to rally in the top of the seventh and got one run in when Pomeroy scored again, but could not generate any more offense.

Melanie Mitchell pitched seven innings and allowed one hit and two earned runs for the win. Pomeroy suffered her fourth loss of the season after she gave up five hits and three earned runs in three innings.

Eure and Spanka were responsible for the Spartans’ two hits on the day.

NSU returns home to host the 2010 Spartan Classic on Saturday and Sunday. Tournament participants include Binghamton, Howard and St. Bonaventure.