Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DOVER, Delaware -- The Norfolk State University softball team swept the doubleheader against the Hornets of Delaware State University at the Hornets Nest in Dover, DE., on Friday afternoon. NSU won the games 7-3 in game one and 11-3 in game two.

After a scoreless first inning for both teams to start the day, third baseman Kenna Higa hit a solo homerun over the left field wall to put the Spartans on the board with a 1-0 lead. 

Norfolk State increased its lead in the top of the third inning posting five runs in the frame. Victoria Ruiz got things started after singling through the right side and stealing second during Yrral Davis's at-bat. Ruiz reached third on a wild pitch and came home after Davis doubled to center field. Alison Guckin walked and both Davis and Guckin advanced a base when Gabby Vaughan singled to left field to load the bases. 

Higa returned to the plate and hit a double to left center field which scored Davis and Guckin and put runners ate second and third for Cam Andersen's at-bat. Andersen singled to right center field driving in both Vaughan and Higa for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. NSU entered the bottom half of the third with a 6-0 lead. 

Norfolk State had some opportunities in the top of the fourth to claim an eight-plus run lead, however, Delaware State tagged the lead runners out and ended the inning with the Spartans leaving the bases loaded. 

Neither team managed to find the scoreboard in the fourth inning while Delaware State sent a run home in the bottom of the fifth to hold off the shutout putting the score are 6-1. 

NSU responded in the top of the sixth with a single run scored by Davis on a Maya Johnson sacrifice fly that put the Spartans ahead by six runs, 7-1. 

DSU in their final attempt at a comeback scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning putting the final score at 7-3. 

Game two was much closer throughout the beginning innings as the Hornets opened the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Spartans answered with two of their own in the top of the second to even the score at two all. Loren Hudson and Jade Dixon crossed home plate on groundouts from Lily Potter and Victoria Ruiz. 

After a scoreless third inning, Norfolk State added a single run in the top of the fourth as a Davis single to left field scored Potter. Delaware State answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth evening the score at three runs each. 

NSU scored eight more runs in the last two innings while holding DSU off the board putting the final score at 11-3 in the Spartans favor. 

A lone run came across home plate in the sixth inning as TC Watson scored off a wild pitch. The remainder of the runs, seven, were scored in the top of the seventh inning. 

The first run of the seventh inning scored was from Cam Andersen who came home on a Rylie Gilbreath single down the left line. The next two runs were scored by Gilbreath and Morgan Johnson as they crossed home plate on bases loaded walks. 

A Ruiz single to third base scored Higa for the eighth run of the game, while Lauren Sheehan came home during a fielders choice play on a Davis at-bat. The final two runs of the game crossed during Andersen's at-bat as she reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that sent Potter and Davis home. 

The Spartans and Hornets square off again at 12 PM on Saturday, April 22, for the third and final game of the series. 

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