Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

Orangeburg, S.C. – Evelyn Garcia, Casandra Toole and Jennifer Gonzales each blasted two-run home runs on Sunday to lead the Lady Pirates of Hampton to a sweep of South Carolina State (1-6). Hampton shutout SCSU 7-0 in the first game and then cruised to a 14-3 win in game two, improving to 4-0 this season.

Hampton’s freshman pitcher Jada Jeffries used her bat to open the scoring in the second inning of game one by doubling home Evelyn Garcia who had reached base on an error and stole second. The Lady Pirates added two more runs in the fourth on Garcia’s first home run of the season, a two-run shot off of SCSU starter Chanel Thompson that gave Hampton a 3-0 lead.

That lead quickly swelled in the fifth when Jennifer Gonzales doubled scoring two more, and again in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles by Leslie Hooks and centerfielder Tesara Liggins.

Jeffries (2-0) tossed her second straight complete game to record her first career shutout as she allowed just three hits, while striking out six.

Hampton wasted little time getting started in game two as the Lady Pirates loaded the bases in the top of the first thanks to two walks and a hit batter. Garcia walked scoring Brittany Davis and Jeffries followed with a two-run double to right to put the Lady Pirates in front 3-0 after just half an inning.

The Lady Bulldogs responded in their half of the first as Thompson singled to lead things off. An error at first by Jeffries allowed another runner on and Cidney Chester singled to load the bases for SCSU. Tifanie Lewis grounded out to second base on the ensuing at bat, scoring Thompson from third. However, Hampton pitcher Amanda Black buckled down to get the next two batters and leave two runners stranded on base for SCSU.

Three more runs crossed the plate for the Lady Pirates in the second inning on an RBI double from Maggie Wolfe and a two-run homer by Gonzales.

Casandra Toole came through with her first career home run in the third, a two-run shot off of SCSU’s Thompson that gave Hampton an 8-1 lead.

The Lady Pirates pounded out six runs on five hits in the top of the sixth and SCSU added two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run single by TaTreka Polite to provide the final 14-3 margin.

Toole and Gonzales drove in four and three runs respectively for the Lady Pirates, while Black (2-0) tossed a complete game, striking out eight and surrendering just five hits.

Hampton returns to the field this Friday, Feb. 23 when they’ll begin play at the Seahawk Classic hosted by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.