HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split a doubleheader against Howard on Saturday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, winning the first game 4-3 before dropping the second game 6-4.
 
The Lady Pirates are 14-17 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
 
Hampton jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the first game, when junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) took the third pitch of the frame over the left field wall for her first home run of the season.
 
Howard (2-27, 1-10 MEAC) answered with a run in the top of the third to tie the game at 1-1, before the Lady Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame with a trio of runs to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) got the scoring started with a double off the center field wall to score freshman Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.), then McCoy scored on the throw after freshman Kayla DeSchepper (Lakewood, Colo.) singled up the middle.
 
DeSchepper then scored on a double from junior Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
Howard answered in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs to close the gap to 4-3, but junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) held the Lady Bison scoreless in the final three frames to get the Lady Pirates back into the win column.
 
McCoy had two of Hampton's seven hits.
 
Jackson struck out two in seven innings of work to pick up her 10th win of the season.
 
Howard jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, before the Lady Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the inning after McCoy doubled down the left field line to drive in Budden.
 
The Lady Bison answered with a run in the top of the second, before adding two more runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Hampton answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring twice on RBI singles from Budden and DeSchepper to close the gap to 4-3.
 
But Howard, which scored in each of the first four innings, scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to take a 6-3 lead.
 
DeSchepper drove in Budden with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 6-4.
 
Budden and DeSchepper each had two hits to lead the Lady Pirates, and DeSchepper drove in two runs.
 
Jackson pitched 4.1 innings of relief in the second game, striking out three.
 
The Lady Pirates will take on Howard again on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium. 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.