Hampton Softball Back in Action at the HBCU Collegiate Invitational

WHO: Hampton (2-3) at HBCU Collegiate Invitational
WHEN: February 14-16
WHERE: Covington, Ga.
WEEKEND SLATE:
Feb. 14 vs. Jackson State - 12:00 p.m.
Feb. 14 vs. Alcorn State - 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 vs. Grambling State - 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 vs. Claflin - 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 16 vs. Southern 11:00 a.m.

HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 13, 2025) … Hampton University softball is back in action at the HBCU Collegiate Invitational. This weekend's field consists of 16 HBCUs across the Division I and Division II level. Coach Tarvin's side begins the tournament against Jackson State from the

ABOUT HAMPTON

The Pirates began the 2025 season at the 901 Classic hosted by the Memphis Tigers. Last weekend Hampton went 2-3 at the multiple-team event defeating Rust Bearcats. HU's offense was on fire during the games against the Bearcats producing 23 runs. Two of the three Hampton's defeats were only decided by one run. Against Lindenwood, the Pirates scored first in the bottom of the first. With Lindenwood tallying runs in back-to-back frames late, The Lions escaped with a 2-1 victory. Hampton's first contest versus Memphis was decided in the final frame. Hampton at the top of the fifth tied the game at 2-2. However, the Tigers walked off the contest with a single up the middle.

Through the first five games, Kylie Hill is off to a hot start. The sophomore with a .563 batting average ranks third in the Coastal Athletic Association. Hill has produced a team-high nine hits and ranks second in the conference. The Chesapeake, Va. native, currently leads the league in RBIs with seven. Aitirhna Aiken and Carmynn Bonner are the other Pirates to be batting over .300 this season. The trio of Aiken, Bonner, and Hill account for 44 percent of Hampton's RBI total during the 2025 campaign.

Senior Jada Evans has made two starts for the Pirates on the mound. In both starts, Evans went the complete seven innings. In the season opener, she produced a career-high eight strikeouts with only allowing one hit. While Angelina Branch was credited for the loss in the game against Lindenwood, the sophomore had an imprecise season opener. Against the Lions Branch only allowed three hits.

ABOUT JACKSON STATE

Jackson State enters this weekend's slate of games with a 4-0 record. In its most recent time out, the Tigers defeated Alcorn State 8-2. Both Jace Jackson and Meah Almaraz finished the game with two hits. Jackson State is coached by Kevin Montgomery who is in his seventh season with the program. Last year the program won the SWAC tournament securing a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers posted a 33-19 record a year ago.

Through the first four games, Mesh Almaraz has been Jackson State's top hitter. Almaraz currently has a .700 batting average with three RBIs. She is also one of two student-athletes on the Tigers roster to hit a home run this season. Sofia Gonzalez is Jackson State's go-to arm out of the bullpen. Gonzales in two starts has a 0.70 ERA while only giving up two hits. The senior in the outing against Arlington Baptist pitched a shutout.

ABOUT ALCORN STATE

Alcorn State enters the HBCU Invitational with a 2-2 record. The Braves earned their first win of the season against Mississippi Valley State. With eight runs in the sixth frame, Alcorn State defeated the Devilettes 13-3. The Braves are coached by Brianna Bille who is in her first season with the program. Billie had spent two seasons as a head coach at the Division II ranks at Benedict.

Olivia Miller leads the way offensively for Alcorn State. The Sophomore leads the team in hits with five through the early portion of the campaign. In the season opener against Mississippi Valley State, Miller went 2-for-4 from the palate with a double and an RBI. Ta'Niyah Fletcher leads Coach Bille's side on the mound. The Senior has pitched one shutout while tallying 11 strikeouts.

ABOUT GRAMBLING STATE

The Tigers enter the weekend slate of games with a 1-3 record. Grambling State won its first game of the season against Mississippi Valley State 8-7. The contest went into extra innings after both sides were tied 4-4. In the eighth frame, both teams scored one run forcing another inning. While Mississippi Valley State produced two runs in the ninth, the Tigers responded with three in the bottom half of the stanza. Grambling State walked off the contest on an error committed by the Devilettes infield.

The Tigers are coached by Nakeya Hall who is in her seventh season with the program. Before becoming the head coach at Grambling State, Hall spent five years at Alabama A&M. During the 2018 season with the Bulldogs, the team won a share of the 2018 SWAC Eastern Division title. During the same season, Coach Hall's side led the SWAC in batting average, slugging percentage, runs per game, and home runs.

ABOUT CLAFLIN

Claflin enters the HBCU Collegiate Invitational with a 4-0 record. The Panthers have yet to play a Division I opponent. The Division II side is from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Claflin is coached by Ricky Holden who is in his second season with the program. In his first season with the Panthers, Coach Holden's side posted a 19-23 record.

Sophomore infielder Tate Morgan is starting off the 2025 campaign on a high note. The Chicago, Ill. native, leads team batting average with a .769. Morgan entering the tournament has recorded a hit in her last six at-bats. Katelynn Grissom has been the Panther's top arm out of the bullpen. Grissom in here two starts on the mound has posted a 2-0 record with one shutout. In the win against Voorhees, the Sophomore recorded 10 strikeouts.

ABOUT SOUTHERN

The Jaguars enter this weekend's tournament with a 0-5 record. For Southern the HBCU Invitational will be their games played in the Eastern Time zone. The Jaguars first game of the tournament will be against MEAC North Carolina Central. Southern is coached by Brittney Williams who is in her fourth season at the helm. Before taking over the reins at South, Williams had spent five seasons in the high school ranks.

Both Katiana Maldonado and Alana Mark enter this weekend's slate of games with batting averages over .500. Maldonado recorded her first collegiate hit against Utah Tech. In the game against Utah Tech, the freshman went 2-for-2 from the plate. With five hits Alana leads the Jaguars in hits. Sophomore Jordynn Jennings has the best ERA on the team with a 3.50. Kairah Williams has been the go-to starter for Southern making two starts on the mound.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Kylie Hill: INF; 5' 6"; Freshman

#19 Jada Evans: P; 5' 8"; Junior

#27 Angelina Branch: P/OF; 5' 8"; Freshman

#43 Carmynn Bonner: P/OF; 5' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#13 Kylie Hill
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: INF

#19 Jada Evans
: 5' 8"; Junior
: P

#27 Angelina Branch
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: P/OF

#43 Carmynn Bonner
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: P/OF

Hampton University Athletics

Schedule

Scoreboard

Hampton Softball Back in Action at the HBCU Collegiate Invitational

Players Mentioned

#13 Kylie Hill

#19 Jada Evans

#27 Angelina Branch

#43 Carmynn Bonner

Players Mentioned

#13 Kylie Hill

#19 Jada Evans

#27 Angelina Branch

#43 Carmynn Bonner