HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against George Washington on Wednesday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, winning the second game 7-3 after falling 5-4 in the first game.
 
The Lady Pirates (16-18) have won three of their last five games.
 
Hampton struck early in the second game, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the first inning. It all started with an RBI single from freshman Kayla DeSchepper (Lakewood, Colo.) which scored freshman Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.).
 
Freshman Taylor Clark (Queen Creek, Ariz.) then singled up the middle to score sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.), before DeSchepper scored on a wild pitch to give Hampton a 3-0 lead.
 
George Washington 16-24-1) scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to cut the gap to 3-2, before the Lady Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame – taking a 4-2 lead after DeSchepper singled to left field to bring in junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.).
 
The Colonials added a run in the top of the sixth, cutting the lead to 4-3 on an RBI double from Mary Wiley.
 
The Lady Pirates broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, pushing across three runs to take a 7-3 lead. McCoy started the scoring with a single up the middle that brought in McCoy, before Clark found the right field line with a single that scored McCoy.
 
DeSchepper then stole home as part of a double steal.
 
DeSchepper went 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game, and she and Clark each drove in a team-high two runs. Clark, McCoy, and Wilkins each had two hits, while Wilkins, McCoy, and DeSchepper each scored twice.
 
Sophomore Jecholia Pratt (Orlando, Fla.) went the full seven innings, scattering six hits in picking up her fifth win of the season.
 
The Colonials struck first in the top of the first inning in the opening game, pushing across a run on a squeeze bunt to take a 1-0 lead. George Washington scored twice more in the second inning, going up 3-0, before Victoria Valos hit a home run to left field in the third to give the Colonials a 4-0 lead.
 
Valos then walked with the bases loaded in the fourth to put the Colonials up 5-0.
 
The Lady Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, starting with an RBI single from Budden, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, with the bases loaded that scored Burruel. McCoy then walked with the bases loaded, bringing in sophomore Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.) and cutting the lead to 5-2.
 
Budden singled in the seventh inning to bring in Ponds, cutting the Colonials' lead to 5-3, before Wilkins later scored on a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 5-4.
 
Budden had three hits in the first game, driving in two runs.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) struck out five hitters in her seven innings of work.
 
The Lady Pirates will resume conference play on Friday with a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore starting at 1 p.m. in the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium. Both of Friday's games will be televised live on ESPNU.
 
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.