WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Hampton University softball team picked up a pair of wins in the UNC Wilmington Softball Invitational this past Friday and Saturday at Boseman Field, defeating Youngstown State and Siena.
The Lady Pirates (5-13) defeated Youngstown State 2-0 on Friday.
The first run came in the top of the first inning, when
Morgan Crawford singled to center field to bring home
Alana Vandenburg, who had reached earlier in the frame on a single.
Vandenburg scored the game's only other run in the fifth; after reaching on another base hit and advancing to second on an error, she stole third and then scored on another error – this one by the shortstop – to give Hampton the 2-0 edge.
Allyson Babinsack only gave up two hits, striking out five in picking up her second win of the year.
Vandenburg went 3-for-4 at the plate.
On Saturday, the Lady Pirates defeated Siena 7-5 in comeback fashion – Siena held a 4-1 lead after the first inning and led 5-1 after two. But the comeback started in the top of the third, when an RBI groundout from
Kial Watts cut the lead to 5-2.
Watts added an RBI single in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-3.
The sixth inning was where the Lady Pirates completed the comeback, pushing across four runs to take the lead. After
Quierra Bradford led off the inning with a pinch-hit walk, she advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored on an
Ashley Grassini single.
Taylor Warrick then singled later in the inning to load the bases, before Vandenburg doubled home a pair of runs to give the Lady Pirates a 6-5 lead as
Danielle Budden and
MacKenzie Wise scored. Later in the inning, with the bases still loaded, Warrick scored on a wild pitch to grow the lead to 7-5.
Warrick was 4-for-4 at the plate, while Vandenburg drove in a team-high three runs.
Babinsack went the distance in picking up her third win of the season.
Hampton lost both of its games against host UNC Wilmington, 5-4 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday.
Jada Fields homered in Friday's game, her third of the season, as Warrick went 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Lady Pirates will open MEAC play this Saturday and Sunday in Baltimore, Md. with a three-game set at Morgan State. For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.