The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy softball team soundly defeated visiting Norfolk Academy as senior Macy Mears led the way on offense Tuesday afternoon. In the Lady Saints’ five-inning 15-0 win, she hit the cycle, meaning she singled, doubled, tripled and hit a home run.

And it was not just Tuesday. It also happened to be her birthday.

“It was very cool,” Mears said. “I was very thrilled.”

NSA head coach Brittany Wilkins was elated by Mears’ performance.

“You know, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from her,” Wilkins said. “That just speaks for the kind of work ethic that she has.”

Mears did not realize she had hit for the cycle until a parent told her after the game, but she ended up going 4-for-4.

“It’s one of those things that happens — I wouldn’t say once in a lifetime — but it’s very rare,” Wilkins said of the feat.

The home run was a solo shot, and she also had four runs batted in and two stolen bases.

Mears had been spending time on the mound in recent games, but she was back at shortstop on Tuesday, in part because freshman Delaney Taylor was out due to illness.

Wilkins could not overstate Mears’ importance to the Lady Saints, as the only senior on the squad this year.

“She’s the voice of this team, the backbone of the team,” Wilkins said. “I kind of call her multi-faceted Macy. She can do it all.”

Both Mears and Wilkins were pleased with the team’s play overall against the Lady Bulldogs.

“I felt great about it,” Mears said. “We came out hitting the ball.”

Nansemond-Suffolk combined for 17 hits. Freshman Logan Harrell was another key contributor, going 3-for-3, with four stolen bases.

“EJ (Bankson) pitched a great game, obviously a shutout,” Mears said. “So it was a good team win.”

“I thought we got the job done,” Wilkins said. “We did exactly what we were supposed to have done.”

As if her performance on the field was not enough, Mears also took the occasion of her birthday to decide where she will go to college — James Madison University.

She will only be going for academics, but said, “I will probably play some sort of club sports.”

NSA (7-5, 3-1) will visit Norfolk Collegiate this afternoon.