HAMPTON, Va. – A wild three-run seventh inning in game one helped propel the Hampton University softball team to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division doubleheader sweep of Norfolk State on Saturday winning the opener 5-4 and then taking the nightcap 7-2.
Game 1 – Hampton 5, Norfolk State 4
The visiting Spartans got on the board in the top of the third as with one out Devin Bitler beat out an infield single and went to third on a throwing error. Jaylene Pryor drove her in with a sacrifice fly. NSU pushed the lead to 3-0 as Hannah Haustein singled to right to score Julianne Gillo and an error on the throw allowed Kylee Lopez to score.
Hampton got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as
Brianna Anderson started with a walk and went to third on
Allyson Babinsack's double to left.
Quierra Bradford's squeeze bunt scored Anderson and moved pinch-runner
Alana Vandenburg to third. After a walk to
Jada Fields,
Ashley Grassini hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Vandenburg to bring Hampton to within a run at 3-2.
Norfolk State got an extra run in the top of the seventh on a two-out home run by Pryor before Hampton made its run in the bottom of the seventh. With one out,
Cassidy Blackwell doubles to left center and walks to
Morgan Crawford and
Danielle Budden loaded the bases.
Taylor Warrick drew another walk to plate Blackwell and Anderson was hit by a pitch to score Crawford to tie the game at 4-all. Babinsack followed with a single to right center to score Budden for the 5-4 win.
Hampton was out-hit 6-3, but took advantage of six walks as Babinsack got the win throwing all seven innings and striking out four. She had two of Hampton's three hits going 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI.
Game 2 – Hampton 7, Norfolk State 2
Hampton got on the board quickly with four runs in the second inning as Blackwell singled up the middle and went to second on a single by Crawford. After a wild pitch advanced both runners,
Allie Hotetz singled to right center to drive in both for an early 2-0 lead. Warrick followed with a triple to left center to plate Hotetz and she scored on a passed ball for a 4-0 Hampton advantage.
The Spartans got a run in the top of the fourth on a RBI single by Haustein and Hampton responded with one in the bottom of the inning as
Sarah Kollas smacked the first pitch of the inning over the fence in left field for a 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hampton pushed the advantage to 7-1 as with two outs, Crawford singled through the left side advancing Blackwell who had earlier singled to second. Kollas hit a single to left to load the bases. Hotetz drew a walk to score Blackwell and Warrick singled to left to score Crawford.
Hampton put up 13 hits in game two as Blackwell was 3-for-4 to lead the multi-hit contingent. Hotetz earned the win allowing seven hits and striking out two while helping herself at the plate driving in three runs.
Softball will close out its home schedule on Sunday at noon with Senior Day to close out the three-game MEAC series with Norfolk State.
For more information on Hampton University softball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.
