DOVER, Del. – The Hampton University softball team played a three-game conference series against Delaware State at the Hornets Nest on Monday and Tuesday, picking up a win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
 
The Lady Pirates (13-14, 4-2 MEAC) won Tuesday's second game 4-2 after falling 5-1 in the first game. Delaware State came back to take Monday's game 10-9 in walkoff fashion.
 
Hampton struck early in Tuesday's second game, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when junior Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) drove in junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) and freshman Kayla DeSchepper (Lakewood, Colo.) with a double to right-center field.
 
Wilkins reached on an infield single in the top of the second, scoring redshirt-sophomore Raenelle Taylor (Aquasco, Md.) to give the Lady Pirates a 3-0 lead.
 
Delaware State cut the lead to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Hampton picked up an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning, when freshman Taylor Clark () doubled to right field, scoring Burruel and giving the Lady Pirates a 4-2 lead.
 
Wilkins led the Lady Pirates at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, while Taylor went 2-for-3. Burruel drove in a team-high two runs.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) scattered five hits in seven innings to pick up her ninth win of the season, striking out four batters.
 
The Lady Hornets (17-8, 2-1 MEAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of Tuesday's first game, before adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-0 lead.
 
Wilkins singled to center field in the seventh, scoring Clark and cutting the lead to 5-1. Wilkins went 2-for-4 at the plate in Tuesday's first game.
 
Delaware State opened Monday's game by scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead before the Lady Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Burruel singled up the middle to score sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.), before Clark doubled home Burruel to tie the game at 2-2.
 
DeSchepper gave Hampton a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run single, and the Lady Pirates broke the game open in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs.
 
Wilkins got the scoring started in the sixth with an RBI single to right field, before Budden brought in another run with an infield single. Then, with the bases loaded, McCoy doubled to right-center field to clear the bases and give Hampton an 8-2 lead.
 
DeSchepper then brought home Budden with a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Hampton a 9-2 lead.
 
The Lady Hornets mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, starting with a grand slam from Jordan Stamps to cut the lead to 9-6. Delaware State then cut the lead to 9-8 by taking advantage of back-to-back errors, before Tara Tursellino singled up the middle to score two and end the game.
 
Wilkins, McCoy, DeSchepper, and Clark each had two hits on Monday for the Lady Pirates, while McCoy and DeSchepper each drove in a team-high three runs.
 
Jackson struck out six batters in 6.2 innings pitched.
 
The Lady Pirates will return to action on April 10, when they head to Farmville, Va. for a doubleheader against Longwood. 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.