HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team completed a three-game sweep of rival Howard on Thursday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, taking the rescheduled series finale 9-6 after a lady Bison comeback.

The Lady Pirates (21-21, 8-1 MEAC) have won 10 of their last 13 games.

Hampton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after sophomore Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice, laying down a bunt that brought home freshman Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.).

Senior Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) scored on a double steal in the second inning to put the Lady Pirates up 2-0, before senior Shine Huwe (Green Bay, Wisc.) singled home a run in the third inning to give Hampton a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Pirates led 4-0 after sophomore Bianca Vallejo (Chandler, Ariz.) scored on an error in the top of the fourth inning.

Ponds hit an RBI double to center field in the top of the sixth, before freshman Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) brought Ponds home with a double to left field to give the Lady Pirates a 6-0 lead.

Howard answered in the bottom of the sixth, opening the inning with three straight singles before the Lady Bison's first run of the game came on a bases-loaded walk to Jenny Ly. Ashley Turner then hit a grand slam to left field to cut Hampton's lead to 6-5.

Ashley Canty tied the game at 6-6 later in the inning with an RBI single.

Senior Adrianna Scott (Laurel, Md.) gave the Lady Pirates an 8-6 lead in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run single, before Burruel singled in another run to put Hampton up 9-6.

Ferguson was 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Lady Pirates, while Ponds, McCoy, Huwe, and Scott each added two hits. Scott also drove in a team-high two runs, while Scott, Ponds, and Ferguson each scored twice.

In all, Hampton recorded 15 hits on Thursday.

Sophomore Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) went seven innings in picking up her 16th win on the mound, giving up just three of Howard's seven hits and recording 11 strikeouts.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they head to Princess Anne, Md. for a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore starting at 1 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.