The Lady Pirates (12-30) struck first in the opening game, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Adrianna Scott (Laurel, Md.) doubled down the left-field line to bring in senior Bre'Anna Brown (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Norfolk State answered with two runs in the second inning, taking a 2-1 lead when Candice Vasquez reached on an error to bring in a run and Danielle Wright singled to left field to bring in another run.

Junior Brooke Boykin (Riverside, Calif.) doubled down the right-field line to bring in sophomore Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.

The Spartans answered with three runs in the fourth inning, when Nikki Jones started the scoring by stealing home on a double steal. Wright then singled to center field, bringing in a run before scoring herself on a fielding error.

The Lady Pirates mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run on a double by Brown, but the rally fell short.

Brown led Hampton with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, while Ferguson and Scott each went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Junior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) struck out five batters in seven full innings of work.

Hampton fell behind 2-0 in the first inning of the second game, when Melina Valles singled home a run and Jones brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Lady Pirates got on the board in the second inning, when Byrd singled to center field to bring in Scott.

The Lady Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning as the rain began falling. Scott doubled to center field to bring in the first run to tie the game, before Byrd singled her home to give Hampton the lead.

Two more runs in the sixth gave Hampton a 5-2 lead, thanks to a two-run single by Brown.

Norfolk State scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning, starting with an RBI single from Jeanetta Sauceda. Whitney Holland then doubled home a pair of runs to tie the game at 5-5, before Vasquez brought in a run with a groundout to give the Spartans a 6-5 lead.

The Lady Pirates had the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't push across a run.

Scott went 4-for-4 at the plate in the second game, while Byrd and Brown each went 3-for-4, driving in two runs apiece.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Dover, Del. to take on Delaware State in a doubleheader starting 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.