BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University softball team used two big innings on Saturday afternoon to defeat Morgan State 10-2 and claim their first outright MEAC Northern Division Title since 2013.
 
The Lady Pirates improved to 20-20 overall and 15-1 in MEAC play.
 
Hampton struck first in the top of the first inning, pushing across one run. Taylor Warrick led off the game with a triple to center field and fellow freshman Brianna Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Lady Pirates a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Pirates then broke the game open in the fourth inning, thanks to five runs in the frame. Morgan Crawford kicked off that scoring run with a one-run single, before scoring herself on a single by Cassidy Blackwell to give Hampton a 4-0 lead.
 
Anderson would draw a walk to score another run followed by a RBI by Kial Watts to grow the lead to 6-0.
 
Quierra Bradford hit a grand slam in an eventful seventh inning; following a single by Watts to right field and Fields followed that up by singling to center field. Babinsack drew a walk and Bradford pinched hit for Crawford and hit her third home run of the season and her first grand slam to put Hampton up 10-0.
 
Morgan State pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 10-2.
 
Babinsack picked up her 12^th win of the season, striking out six batters.
 
With the win the Lady Pirates will the North's number one seed in the upcoming MEAC Championship and will face North Carolina Central on Thursday, May 11 at 10 am at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
The Lady Pirates will wrap-up the series on Sunday, May 7 with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm to close out regular season play.
 
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.