HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split a doubleheader with Maryland Baltimore County on Wednesday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, falling 12-3 in six innings in the first game before winning the second game 7-1.
 
That win snapped a six-game skid for the Lady Pirates (7-14).
 
The first four innings of the second game were scoreless, before the Retrievers got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. The inning began with a hit-by-pitch, and Bridget O'Malley drove in UMBC's lone run with an infield single that brought home pinch runner Haley DeLany.
 
But the Lady Pirates responded in a big way in the bottom of the fifth, pushing across seven runs. The inning started with senior Diamond Ponds drawing a walk, and she scored on a triple from junior Danielle Budden to tie the game at 1-1.
 
After freshman Hope Dobelewski walked, senior Taylor McCoy singled home Budden to give Hampton a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Jada Fields then singled to load the bases, before the Lady Pirates scored another run when junior Kayla DeSchepper was hit by a pitch.
 
Freshman Allie Hotetz later added the big blow of the inning, cranking a grand slam over the right field wall to give the Lady Pirates a 7-1 lead.
 
It was Hotetz's second home run of the season.
 
McCoy and DeSchepper each had two hits, while Hotetz drove in a team-high four runs. Hotetz also picked up her second win in the circle, scattering five hits in seven innings and striking out five.
 
UMBC (11-14) led the first game 1-0 after half an inning, before Hampton answered in the bottom of the frame when Budden singled on an RBI single up the middle from McCoy.
 
Carly Lesko hit a three-run home run in the top of the third to put the Retrievers up 4-1.
 
Sobelewski singled home Ponds in the bottom of the third, cutting the lead to 4-2, before UMBC tacked on three more runs in the top of the fourth – taking a 7-2 lead after O'Malley hit a two-run homer.
 
Five runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth gave the Retrievers a 12-2 lead.
 
Sobelewski scored on a sacrifice fly from Fields in the bottom of the sixth to score the game's final run.
 
Sobelewski had three of Hampton's six hits in the first game.
 
MEAC play will start this weekend at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, starting on Saturday with a doubleheader against Morgan State. 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.