HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team swept a nationally-televised doubleheader over Maryland Eastern Shore at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium on Friday, winning the first game 7-0 before taking the second game 4-2.
 
Both games were televised on ESPNU.
 
The Lady Pirates (18-18, 8-3 MEAC) have won three straight games and five of their last seven.
 
Hampton took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, when junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) scored on an RBI groundout from sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.).
 
Freshman Heather Baccus (Hertford, N.C.) singled home a run in the bottom of the second inning, scoring freshman Taylor Clark (Queen Creek, Ariz.), before Wilkins delivered the big blow of the game; with the bases loaded, she cranked her second home run of the season to left field, giving Hampton a 6-0 lead.
 
Junior Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled home Clark in the bottom of the fifth to put the Lady Pirates up 7-0.
 
Wilkins and Clark each had two hits in the first game, and both players scored twice. Wilkins led the Lady Pirates with four RBIs.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) picked up her 12th win of the season, allowing just one hit in seven innings of work, while striking out eight.
 
UMES (7-32, 4-6 MEAC) took a 2-0 lead early in the second game after pushing across two runs on a pair of RBI singles.
 
The Lady Pirates answered in the bottom of the third inning, when McCoy singled to left field to bring home Wilkins, before scoring on an RBI single from freshman Kayla DeSchepper (Lakewood, Colo.) to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Hampton then loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with nobody out, before sophomore Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.) singled up the middle to bring home Burruel and give the Lady Pirates the lead.
 
Ponds later scored on a double steal to give Hampton a 4-2 lead.
 
Wilkins, McCoy, and Burruel each had two hits in the second game.
 
Sophomore Jecholia Pratt (Orlando, Fla.) pitched seven strong innings to pick up her sixth win of the season, scattering seven hits and striking out three.
 
The series will conclude on Saturday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium 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.