Box Score
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – In only their second appearance in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship, Savannah State fell one game short of the title bout on Saturday.

The Lady Tigers fell, 4-5, to Norfolk State in the semifinal elimination game, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach Florida.

Savannah State and Norfolk State started the Game 12 of the Championship at 6 p.m. on Friday. The game was eventually postponed at 10 p.m. after a 35 minute rain delay, and a two hour lightening delay. Teams resumed play on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Lady Spartans opened the game with back-to-back singles Friday evening. Robyn Mitchell doubled to center scoring Kathy Cortez, Heather Dunning, Alina Moriarty, for a 3-0 lead.

SSU failed to respond in the bottom of the first inning. Norfolk State continued the stellar work at the plate, tacking on two more runs on two hits in the top of the second inning.

The Lady Tigers put three runners on in the bottom of the frame, but failed to plate the runs. Teams went scoreless through the third inning, stranding a combined three runners.

In the top of the fourth Norfolk State got two hits, but stranded both runners. India Morgan hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame, scoring Destiny Webster, who was pinch running for Madison Hedderly to get SSU on the board.  SSU stranded three runners to end the inning.

Norfolk State went down 1-2-3 in the fifth inning. MEAC Rookie of the Year Torrian Wright was facing a 1-1 pitch with one out in the bottom of the fifth when the lightening siren sounded, delaying the game.

Resuming play on Saturday morning, teams went scoreless into the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Michaela Patton reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Megan Uhrman. Sophomore Amber Hallman blasted a single through the left side, platting Patton and Antonette Smith to cut Norfolk State's lead to 5-4.

After the Lady Spartans went down 1-2-3 in the 7^th, SSU failed to plate the tying run in the bottom of the frame, ending the season.

Norfolk State's Jamie Schulle garnered her 20^th pitching win after 6.1 innings of work. She allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with 10 walks and three strikeouts.

Liz Riley picked up her first save of the year after 0.2 innings in the circle. She allowed no runs on no hits with no strikeouts.

Hedderly concluded her senior season with a 20-11 overall record. She pitched a full 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Lady Tigers conclude the 2013 season with a 26-24 overall record. It is only the second time in school history SSU softball has ended with a winning record.