Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University softball, team split its doubleheader with rival Norfolk State on Thursday at the NSU Softball Field, winning the second game 5-4 after losing the first game 9-0 in five innings.

Norfolk State actually struck first in the second game, scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead when Whitney Holland reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lady Pirates (7-18) answered with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, starting with an RBI double to left-center field by sophomore Tamara Vickers (Lawndale, Calif.). Junior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) then drove in two more runs on a fielder's choice, before junior Sharde' Estep (Aquasco, Md.) drove in a pair of runs by reaching on an error.

Down 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans (5-13) cut Hampton's lead to 5-3 on a two-run home run from Holland, before scoring again in the bottom of the sixth on a solo homer from Gipsy Ramirez.

Byrd pitched the sixth and seventh innings, putting Norfolk State down in order in the seventh to pick up her second save of the season. Senior Tiffany Brents (Chino Hills, Calif.) went five innings to pick up her second win of the season, striking out four.

Vickers, junior Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and senior Bre'Anna Brown (Los Angeles, Calif.) each had two hits to lead Hampton in the second game.

The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning of the first game, thanks to a two-run single from Casey Pomeroy down the right-field line and Alyssa Velazquez reaching on an error.

Norfolk State would add six more runs in the second inning, starting with a two-run single by Kathy Cortez. Holland drove in another run with a single of her own, before Melina Valles brought in two more runs with a single.

Ramirez singled home another run to put Norfolk State up 9-0.

Pomeroy held the Lady Pirates to just four hits in the first game, striking out three batters in five innings of work.

Vickers had two of those hits for Hampton.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they head to Farmville, Va. for a doubleheader against Longwood at 2 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.