NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University softball team dropped its regular season finale on Sunday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field, as Norfolk State scored five runs in the bottom of a rainy seventh inning to take a 10-9 win.
 
The Lady Pirates finished the regular season 19-26 overall and 11-7 in MEAC play.
 
Hampton got on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after junior Danielle Budden -- who reached on an error and stole second – scored when senior Taylor McCoy reached on a fielder's choice.
 
But Whitney Williams hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to put the Spartans up 2-1.
 
Freshman Daniella Milloy scored on a throwing error in the top of the second to tie the game at 2-2, before senior Diamond Ponds reached on another error, scoring junior Taylor Clark to give the Lady Pirates a 3-2 lead.
 
Hampton then unloaded for five runs in the top of the third inning – all with two outs. Sophomore Jada Fields and freshman Sarah Kollas both singled to get things started, before Milloy singled home Fields to give the Lady Pirates a 4-2 lead.
 
Clark then doubled down the right field line to score two more runs, giving Hampton a 6-2 lead, and a single from Ponds brought in two more runs to give the Lady Pirates an 8-2 lead.
 
Norfolk State scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, and two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the Lady Pirates' lead to 8-5.
 
Freshman Hope Sobelewski hit her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot to center, in the top of the sixth to give Hampton a 9-5 lead.
 
The rains came in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Hampton had recorded the first two outs of the frame before the bases wound up loaded. Norfolk State then used an RBI single and two walks to cut the lead to 9-8 – before Williams singled home two runs for the walkoff win.
 
Kollas and Milloy each had two hits, and Clark drove in a team-high two runs.
 
Freshman Allie Hotetz struck out four batters.
 
The 2016 MEAC Championships will be held May 12-14 in Ormond Beach, Fla. Hampton will likely be the Northern Division's No. 3 seed. 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.