ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A five-run seventh inning allowed the Hampton University softball team to advance in the consolation bracket Friday morning at the MEAC Tournament, as the Lady Pirates came back to defeat Delaware State 7-4 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
The Lady Pirates (21-25) will take on Savannah State at 3 p.m.
 
Delaware State, which Hampton swept in the regular season, struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning after a two-run home run from Vanessa Washington, before the Lady Pirates cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fourth on an RBI double from Allyson Babinsack (Hampton, Va.).
 
Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, singling up the middle to bring home McKalee Rouse (Aledo, Texas).
 
But Hampton left the bases loaded to end the inning.
 
The Hornets regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth after Washington hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot to left-center field that gave Delaware State a 3-2 edge.
 
The Lady Pirates started the top of the seventh inning with a walk to Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) and a single from Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.), both of whom scored on a single from Babinsack to give the Lady Pirates a 4-3 lead.
 
Jada Fields (Woodland Park, N.J.) followed with her fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field to give the Lady Pirates a 6-3 lead.
 
Burruel followed with a double, before Jessica Reiman (Massillon, Ohio) drew a walk and Ranelle Taylor (Aquasco, Md.) singled to load the bases. Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.) brought in Burruel with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Hampton a 7-3 lead.
 
Delaware State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs to bring up Washington – who walked to cut the lead to 7-4. But Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) struck out the next batter to kill the rally and end the game.
 
Babinsack and Burruel each had three hits for the Lady Pirates, while Babinsack drove in a team-high three runs. Fields also drove in two runs.
 
Jackson struck out seven in seven innings of work for her seventh win of the season.
 
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.