Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team kicked off the 2012 season with a pair of wins over Oakland University on Thursday at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex, taking the first game 5-2 before winning the second game 3-2.

Oakland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first game, scoring a run in the top of the second inning before pushing across another run in the top of the fifth inning after Shannon Cleveland scored on a passed ball.

Hampton (2-0) answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Junior Carla Trimble (Riverside, Calif.) got the scoring started with an RBI single, before junior Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) doubled to center field to bring two more home.

Senior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) added a two-run double down the left-field line to put the Lady Pirates up 5-2.

From there, Byrd held the Golden Grizzlies in check, going the full seven innings in picking up her first win of the season. Byrd struck out three and scattered seven hits – and both runs she gave up were unearned.

Ferguson went 2-for-2 at the plate, pacing a six-hit effort for the Lady Pirates.

Oakland (0-6) jumped out to another quick lead in the second game, going up 1-0 in the first inning after an RBI double from Erin Galloway. Hampton answered in the fifth inning, tying the game on an RBI double from Trimble before sophomore Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) gave the Lady Pirates a 2-1 lead with an RBI groundout.

Another Galloway double in the top of the sixth inning tied the game at 2-2, before Wilkins singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Lady Pirates the doubleheader sweep in walk-off fashion.

Freshman Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) picked up her first career win by going the full seven innings, giving up just five hits and two runs. She struck out three batters.

Trimble went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Hampton in the second game.

The Lady Pirates will be in Charleston, S.C. on Friday and Saturday, when they compete in the Charleston Southern Tournament. Action begins at 1 p.m. on Friday, as Hampton squares off against Maryland Baltimore County.

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.