Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Liberty at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex on Wednesday, winning the second game 5-3 after losing the first game 9-6.

Hampton (14-24) has eclipsed last season's win mark, and the win in the second game of the doubleheader snapped a six-game losing streak.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the second game, first cracking the scoreboard when junior Shine Huwe (Green Bay, Wisc.) drove in senior Bre'Anna Brown (Los Angeles, Calif.) with a squeeze bunt down the third base line.

Sophomore Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) then singled up the middle to drive in another run, before senior Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.) added a single up the middle of her own to bring in two more runs.

Liberty scored in the top of the second to cut Hampton's lead to 4-1, before the Lady Flames added two more runs in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-3.

The Lady Pirates added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth, when Brown singled home junior Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) to give Hampton a 5-3 leads.

From there, freshman Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) clamped down on the mound, and she set Liberty down in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Jackson scattered four hits in seven innings of work, striking out two in picking up her eighth win of the season.

Wilkins went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Ferguson was 2-for-3.

Liberty jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the second inning of the first game, thanks to scoring eight runs in the frame – taking advantage of four walks and five base hits. The Lady Pirates answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, closing the gap to 8-2 after scoring a pair of runs on a throwing error.

The Lady Flames added a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Meredith Crisante to go up 9-2.

Hampton mounted a charge in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits. Senior Brooke Boykin (Riverside, Calif.) doubled home a run to get the scoring started, before junior Adrianna Scott (Laurel, Md.) added an RBI single of her own.

Magett singled home another run, before Jackson brought in a fourth run on fielder's choice.

Senior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) struck out three in seven innings of work.

Boykin, Ferguson and junior Kelsei Saunders (Suffolk, Va.) each had two hits in the first game.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they play host to Howard in a doubleheader at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex starting at 2 p.m. For more information on Hampton University softball, please call Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.