Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CARY, N.C. – The Hampton University softball team got back into the win column on Thursday with a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina Central at Thomas Brook Park.

The Lady Pirates (4-3) defeated NCCU 8-0 in six innings in the first game, before taking the second game 11-3 in six innings.

Hampton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, starting with an RBI single from sophomore Carla Trimble (Riverside, Calif.). Sophomore Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) then scored on a passed ball, before junior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) singled to bring in Trimble.

The Lady Pirates added three more runs in the third inning. Trimble brought in another run on a fielder's choice, before freshman Heather Ryder (Ontario, Canada) brought in another run with a sacrifice fly.

Junior Brooke Boykin (Riverside, Calif.) drove in the third run with a double to center field.

Junior Sharde' Estep (Aquasco, Md.) singled home another run in the top of the fifth inning, and sophomore Tamara Vickers (Lawndale, Calif.) scored the final run in the sixth inning on an error.

Boykin went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Vickers went 2-for-4.

Ryder picked up her first collegiate win on the mound, giving up just two hits in six shutout innings and striking out five.

Hampton struck first in the top of the first inning in the second game, when Vickers scored on a fielder's choice, before NCCU (3-3) tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Regina Diaz scored on an error.

The Lady Pirates would answer with six runs in the second inning. Boykin scored the first run of the inning on a throwing error, before senior Bre'Anna Brown (Los Angeles, Calif.) singled home another run. Byrd then added a triple with the bases loaded to clear the bases and Ferguson drove in another run on a fielder's choice.

Hampton scored three more times in the third inning; Estep drove in the first run with a double down the left-field line, before Vickers drove in two runs with a double of her own.

NCCU scored twice in the bottom of the third, before the Lady Pirates put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth, when junior Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.) drove in a run with a fielder's choice.

Estep and Vickers each went 2-for-3 at the plate in the second game, while Byrd drove in three runs and Vickers had two RBIs.

Byrd went 5.2 innings to pick up her first win of the season, striking out three.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday and Sunday, when they head to Spartanburg, S.C. to compete in the USC Upstate Classic. Hampton will face George Mason on Saturday at 12 p.m., before taking on host USC Upstate at 2 p.m.

Sunday will see the Lady Pirates take on George Mason again at 11 a.m., before playing Upstate at 1 p.m.

For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.