WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Hampton University softball team split its first two games of the Rebel Games on Tuesday, defeating South Dakota State 2-1 in eight innings after suffering a 7-3 loss to Creighton.
 
The Lady Pirates are now 5-8 on the season.
 
South Dakota State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a bases-loaded groundout, and that lead held until the bottom of the fifth; after freshman Ashley Grassini singled and advanced to second on a groundout, sophomore MacKenzie Wise drove her in with a double to left center to tie the game at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, junior Kayla DeSchepper was placed on second base per extra-inning rules, before freshman Hope Sobelewski was intentionally walked and senior Taylor McCoy reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Sophomore Jada Fields then singled to right field to bring home the winning run.
 
Senior Diamond Ponds had two of the Lady Pirates' five hits. Fields picked up her second win of the season in the circle, striking out two and giving up just two hits in eight innings of work.
 
In the first game of the day, the Lady Pirates trailed Creighton 1-0 after the first inning. A bases-loaded walk to freshman Allie Hotetz in the top of the second tied the game at 1-1, before Creighton scored a run in the bottom of the frame to go up 2-1.
 
Creighton then pushed across five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead, including a three-run home run from Ringle.
 
DeSchepper tripled in the top of the fifth inning, bringing in Ponds and Hotetz to cut the lead to 7-3.
 
Ponds had two hits to lead the Lady Pirates, while DeSchepper drove in two runs.
 
Hotetz struck out two batters in six innings in the circle.
 
On Wednesday, the Lady Pirates will face Sacred Heart and Creighton. 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.