Norfolk, Va. - The Youngstown State softball team rode soild pitching performances and timely hitting to a doubleheader sweep and picked up its first two victories of the season with 8-2 and 6-1 wins over Norfolk State on Sunday.

With the wins, the Penguins improve to 2-2 on the season while the Spartans fall to 4-6.

In the opener, Lusk struck out four and did not allow an earned run to pick up the win, and she drove in a two runs and score once.

Yazmine Romero went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Nikki Saibene had two RBIs and Hailey Niederkohr also drove in a run.

Lusk's first-inning doulble down the left-field line scored Romero, who walked and stole second, to take an early 1-0 lead. The Penguins added two more runs in the top half of the second on bases-loaded walks by Lusk and Alex DeLeon.

Norfolk State trimmed the lead to 3-2 by scoring a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third.

The Penguins busted the game open with a five-run fourth inning and close out the scoring. Romero scored when DeLeon reached on an error and Saibene drilled a two-run double to left-center field to plate DeLeon and Lusk. Pinch-runner Sydney Payne scored on an error and Niederkohr's double to center field plated Grace Cea with the game's final run.

In the nightcap, freshman Sophie Howell picked up her first collegiate win by striking out four in five innings pitched and scattering six hits.

Lusk was clutch at the plate going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a home run. Cea also drove in a pair of runs for the Penguins.

Hailey Roach began the scoring with a run-scoring single to left field in the top of the second that scored Cea with the game's first run.

Lusk gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead with a solo home run to left field in the top of the third.

The Spartans cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom half of the frame.

Cea extended the Penguins lead to 4-1 with a two-run double in the top of the fifth inning that scored Lusk and Jillian Jakse.

Jakse's bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth closed the scoring.

Youngstown State hosts Akron, March 5-6, in the 2021 home opener at the YSU Softball Field in the Covelli Sports Complex. First pitch on Friday is slated for 2 p.m.