Box Score

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Hampton University softball team lost its opening game in the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, falling 8-0 in six innings to Southern Division No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman Thursday morning at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

Bethune-Cookman (29-22) struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when Briana Leverett drove in a run with an RBI single, before the Lady Wildcats added four more runs in the third inning. Allison Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle, before Cesley Tafoya drove in two more runs with a single down the left field line.

Sabrina Ferguson doubled to center field to bring home the fourth run of the inning, putting Bethune-Cookman up 5-0.

Tafoya added an RBI single in the fourth inning, before Garcia scored on a wild pitch to put the Lady Wildcats up 7-0.

Garcia's single down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home the final run.

Garcia held the Lady Pirates (21-37) to three hits in six innings of work, striking out five. Tafoya drove in three runs with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, while Garcia also went 2-for-3, driving in a pair of runs.

Sophomore Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.), sophomore Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) and junior Tiffany Brents (Chino Hills, Calif.) each had a hit for the Lady Pirates.

Sophomore Sydni Benton (Chicago, Ill.) started, going two innings before senior Jada Jeffries (Lithonia, Ga.) pitched the last four innings, striking out one and giving up five hits.

The Lady Pirates will face Howard in the consolation bracket at 4:30 p.m.

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.