HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team lost its home finale on Sunday afternoon at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, as Norfolk State closed out the three-game series with a 2-1 win.
 
The Lady Pirates fell to 19-24 overall and 11-6 in MEAC play.
 
Hampton will likely be the MEAC Northern Division's No. 3 seed in the MEAC Tournament, which will be held Thursday through Saturday in Ormond Beach, Fla.
 
The game was tied at 1-1 heading into the seventh inning before Heather Dunning reached on an error and later advanced to third on a double from Devon Bitler. Alina Moriarty followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Dunning and giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
 
Junior Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but the Lady Pirates couldn't mount a rally.
 
Hampton started the scoring in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to left center from junior Jessica Reiman (Massillon, Ohio), her third of the season, to give the Lady Pirates a 1-0 lead.
 
Sommer Di Fulgo tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, singling to left field with the bases loaded to score Whitney Williams.
 
Reiman and McCoy had the only hits of the afternoon for Hampton.
 
Senior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) struck out four in seven innings, giving up just one earned run.
 
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.