HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team will open the 2012 season with a pair of home doubleheaders on Sunday and Thursday at the Lady Pirate Softball Complex.

The Lady Pirates will open the season against Canisius College on Sunday starting at 12 p.m., before facing Oakland on Thursday in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

Hampton, in its second season under head coach Trena Peel, struggled with injuries and went 13-35 overall last season – finishing fifth in the MEAC North with a mark of 6-9. The Lady Pirates return eight letterwinners and six starters from last year's squad, including senior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.), the lone pitcher returning from last season.

The Lady Pirates will also get back junior Kelsei Saunders (Suffolk, Va.), who missed all of last season with an injury. Saunders was a First Team All-MEAC selection in her freshman and sophomore seasons, and she has 22 career home runs – tied for second-most in program history.

Maggie Wolfe (2004-07) holds the school record for career home runs with 30.

The Lady Pirates were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC Northern Division this season.

Hampton is 1-7 all-time against Canisius, with the last meeting coming on Feb. 21, 2010 – when Canisius swept a doubleheader against the Lady Pirates. Hampton's lone win over Canisius came on Feb. 20, 2006, when the Lady Pirates took the first game of a home doubleheader 5-1.

Canisius (1-3) has lost three straight after falling to Virginia and East Carolina on Feb. 11. The Golden Griffins, in their 33rd season under head coach Mike Rappl, were picked to finish fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) this season.

Canisius went 20-21 overall last season to go along with a 7-9 mark in the MAAC.

Thursday's doubleheader will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Oakland. The Grizzlies, based in Rochester, Mich., compete in the Summit League – where they were picked to finish eighth this season after going 17-29 in 2011.

Oakland, under second-year head coach LaDonia Hughes, returns 17 letterwinners – including four pitchers – this season.

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.