NORFOLK, Va., May 11, 2024 — After running through the consolation bracket to reach Championship Saturday, the top-seeded Lady Bears of Morgan State defeated No. 3 Coppin State twice, 5-1 and 6-0, to win the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship title.
With the win, No. 1 Morgan State brought home their second conference title in program history. MSU earned the MEAC’s automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Softball Tournament; they will find out where they play when the 64-team field is revealed on Sunday at 8 p.m. EST.
The Bears held the Eagles scoreless in the game two win while posting one run in the bottom of the first inning and a five-spot in the bottom of the fifth.
MSU got on the board initially in the bottom of the first inning after Melissa Paz hit an RBI single to center field that drove in Amber Rivas.
Three scoreless innings pursued between the teams before the Bears struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning as Victoria Fletcherhit an RBI single to right center that sent Chandler Mitchell across home plate. With the bases loaded, sophomore Gianna Ettore hit a grand slam over the left field fence that nearly hit the NSU baseball outfield wall to put Morgan State up 6-0. Scoring on the play was Mia Ewell, Cassie White and Maia Wilkins.
Ettore led the Lady Bears with four RBI going 1-of-3 at the plate with one hit and run. Rivas, Fletcher and Ky’Anah Lake all recorded two hits, while six other MSU players recorded a hit in the game.
Head Coach Larry Hineline was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Coach while Victoria Fletcher was the tournament Most Outstanding Player.
2024 MEAC Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Coach – Larry Hineline, Morgan State
Most Outstanding Player – Victoria Fletcher, Morgan State
Maryland Eastern Shore, Ameenah Ballenger
South Carolina State, Aaliyah Williams
North Carolina Central, Haley Batista
North Carolina Central, Jaden Davis
Coppin State, Vanessa Carrizosa
Coppin State, Aniyah Haley
Coppin State, Seryna Esparza
Morgan State, Gianna Ettore
Morgan State, Emily Raubuch
Morgan State, Melissa Paz
Morgan State, Victoria Fletcher