CATONSVILLE, Md. – The Hampton University softball team competed in the Dawg Pound Invitational hosted by the University of Maryland Baltimore County this past Saturday and Sunday, dropping all four of its games.
 
The Lady Pirates (9-12) fell 4-3 to Rhode Island in extra innings on Saturday, before falling 7-1 to Drexel in the fourth meeting between the two teams over the past week. Hampton also fell 9-2 to Niagara and 6-1 to host UMBC on Sunday.
 
Hampton jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning against Rhode Island, thanks to freshman Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.) hitting her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field that scored junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.).
 
Rhode Island scored twice in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2, before Hampton pushed across a run in the third, taking a 3-2 lead on an RBI single from junior Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
A sacrifice fly for Rhode Island in the bottom of the third tied the game at 3-3.
 
Rhode Island then pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a throwing error to take the 4-3 win.
 
Budden, Burruel, and freshman Taylor Clark (Queen Creek, Ariz.) each had two hits in the game.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) struck out six batters in seven innings of work against Rhode Island.
 
Drexel held a 7-0 lead after five innings of play in Saturday's second game, before the Lady Pirates got on the board in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Clark that scored Budden.
 
Hampton was held to one hit against the Dragons.
 
On Sunday, Niagara also jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the Lady Pirates after three and a half innings, before Hampton pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth when redshirt-sophomore Raenelle Taylor (Aquasco, Md.) walked with the bases loaded.
 
Niagara added two runs in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead, before Budden hit her third home run of the season – and her second of the weekend – in the bottom of the frame.
 
Budden and sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) each had two hits against Niagara.
 
UMBC led 6-0 after five innings of the second game on Sunday, thanks to three home runs for the Retrievers. The Lady Pirates got on the board in the top of the seventh, when freshman Kayla DeSchepper (Lakewood, Colo.) singled home Clark to cut the lead to 6-1.
 
Wilkins went 3-for-3 at the plate against UMBC.
 
The Lady Pirates return home this weekend to open MEAC play, taking on Morgan State on Saturday in a doubleheader 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.