NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University softball team will take on rival Norfolk State in a three-game set this weekend at the NSU Softball Field, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and ending Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest.
 
Pending a potential make-up date with Coppin State, this will be the regular-season finale for Hampton.
 
The Lady Pirates (23-18, 11-3 MEAC) have won eight straight games and 10 of their last 12 after sweeping a doubleheader at Coppin State this past Sunday. Hampton is currently in third place in the MEAC Northern Division heading into the regular season's final weekend.
 
Norfolk State (19-21, 12-3 MEAC) is tied with Delaware State for the first place in the MEAC Northern Division heading into the weekend, and the Spartans have lost five of their last seven games after splitting a doubleheader with North Carolina Central on Saturday.
 
The Lady Pirates are in their first season under interim head coach Michael Pelegrino, who was an assistant coach last season as Hampton won 34 games, taking the MEAC Northern Division regular-season title and winning its first MEAC Tournament crown since 1996.
 
Hampton was picked to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division this season.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.), the MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, was a large part of last season's success, earning MEAC Pitcher of the Year honors after winning 26 games for the Lady Pirates and striking out a MEAC-best (and school-record) 255 batters in 252.0 innings pitched.
 
She was also an NFCA Second Team All-Region selection and a Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Second Team All-State honoree. Jackson led the MEAC in wins, ERA (2.64), and strikeouts last season, while setting school records in innings pitched, appearances, and starts.
 
So far this season, Jackson is 15-10 with a 2.67 ERA and 115 strikeouts.
 
The Lady Pirates return seven letterwinners and five starters (as well as two pitchers) from last season's squad, including junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.), who was named First Team All-MEAC last season after hitting .343 with six home runs and 32 RBIs.
 
She tied for second in the MEAC with 49 runs scored last season, and Wilkins was also third in the conference in hits, fifth in total bases, seventh in doubles, and tied for eighth in the home runs.
 
So far this season, Wilkins leads the team with a .397 batting average, and she is tied for second on the team with 25 RBIs. Freshman Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.) is second on the team with a .349 batting average, and she leads the team with five home runs and 28 RBIs.
 
The Lady Pirates are 61-36-1 all-time against Norfolk State, and Hampton took three of five meetings between the two teams last season – including a 7-3 win in the championship game of the MEAC Tournament.
 
Overall, Hampton has won four of the last seven meetings.
 
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.