NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team fell 6-3 to No. 5 seed Morgan State in the opening round of the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship on Wednesday afternoon at TowneBank Field.
With the loss, the Spartans move to 22-20 overall and will continue tournament play in an elimination game on Thursday at 11 a.m. against the loser of Game 4 between Delaware State and either South Carolina State or Coppin State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Morgan State struck first with a run in the opening inning before both teams were held scoreless over the next two frames.
The Lady Bears extended their lead in the fourth inning, plating two runs to move ahead 3-0.
After another scoreless inning in the fifth, Morgan State added three more runs in the sixth to take a 6-0 advantage.
Norfolk State responded in the bottom half of the inning when Bristyl Riddick launched a two-run home run over the left field wall, scoring Aniyah Michalak and cutting the deficit to 6-2.
The Spartans held Morgan State scoreless in the top of the seventh and added another run in the bottom half on an RBI double from Kailey Bryant that brought home Kachelle Refour, but the late rally fell short as the Bears secured the 6-3 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kailey Bryant led Norfolk State with two hits and recorded her 100th career hit
- Bristyl Riddick hit a two-run home run and finished with two RBI
- Maddy Morris (11-7) took the loss, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing one run on four hits
- Samantha Stevenson threw 2.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to the field Thursday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game against the loser of Game 4 between Delaware State and either South Carolina State or Coppin State.
