HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team opened conference play with s doubleheader sweep over Morgan State on Saturday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, winning the first game 6-1 and the second game 4-2.
 
The Lady Pirates (9-14, 2-0 MEAC) have won three straight games.
 
Hampton opened the first game of the doubleheader by posting three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After freshman Hope Sobelewski reached on an error with two outs, she scored on a double double to right center from senior Taylor McCoy to put Hampton up 1-0.
 
The Lady Pirates went up 3-0 on the next at-bat, when sophomore Jada Fields hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field.
 
Morgan State answered with a run in the top of the second, cutting the lead to 3-1, but an RBI single from junior Danielle Budden singled up the middle in the bottom of the fourth, scoring freshman Daniella Milloy to give the Lady Pirates a 4-1 lead.
 
Hampton added two runs in the sixth; after Budden doubled home senior Diamond Ponds, she scored on a sacrifice fly from Sobelewski.
 
Budden and McCoy each had two hits, while Budden and Fields each drove in two runs.
 
Freshman Allie Hotetz picked up her third win of the season in the circle, going all seven innings, scattering three hits and striking out four.
 
In the second game, the Lady Pirates put up three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Milloy drove in two of those runs with a single up the middle, before sophomore Lorena Alvarez doubled to left center to score freshman Ashley Grassini.
 
Morgan State (4-16, 0-2 MEAC) answered with a run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 3-1, before the Lady Pirates tacked on another run in the bottom of the third – taking a 4-1 lead after an RBI single from Fields.
 
The Bears scored a run in the seventh, cutting the lead to 4-2, but stranded a runner on third.
 
Budden and Alvarez each had two hits in the second game, and Milloy drove in two runs.
 
Fields went all seven innings in the circle, scattering seven hits and striking out four to pick up her third win of the season.
 
These two teams will meet one more time on Sunday at 12 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.