Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader with Howard University on Saturday at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex, winning the first game 9-7 before falling 6-1 in the second game.

The Lady Pirates (11-26, 4-4 MEAC) won the first game in come-from-behind fashion, coming back to tie the game twice before finally taking the lead for good late in the game. Howard jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Emily Johnson scored on a passed ball and Christine Sborz drove in another run with a groundout.

The Lady Bison added two more runs in the third inning, when Rebecca Kirshner singled home a run before scoring on a wild pitch to give Howard a 4-0 lead.

But Hampton responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, when sophomore Carla Trimble (Riverside, Calif.) drove in a run with a single and sophomore Adrianna Scott (Laurel, Md.) doubled down the right-field line to bring in two more runs.

Sophomore Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) doubled to center field to drive in the fourth run of the inning to tie the game at 4-4.

Samantha Gatson gave Howard (12-23, 4-4 MEAC) the lead back in the fifth inning with a three-run home run to center field to give the Lady Bison a 7-4 lead. Hampton tied the game again in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a two-run home run from junior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.), her second of the season.

Scott later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game a 7-7.

The Lady Pirates took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, when junior Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored on a throwing error and Ferguson drove in another run when she reached on a fielding error.

Howard got a runner on-base in the seventh, but couldn't push across a run.

Byrd went the full seven innings in picking up her third win of the season, striking out four and giving up 10 hits. Scott went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, while Byrd went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Senior Bre'Anna Brown (Los Angeles, Calif.) went 2-for-4.

Howard jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings in the second game. Emily Johnson led off the game with a home run to left field, before Marisa Coats singled home another run in the first inning.

Coats singled home two runs in the second inning.

Scott doubled home Hampton's lone run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, before Ciera Gordon singled up the middle to drive in a run in the top of the third inning. Coats brought in another run for Howard in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to left field to put the Lady Bison up 6-1.

Gatson held the Lady Pirates to just two hits over seven innings to go along with three strikeouts.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Sunday, when they take on Howard at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex at 12 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.