HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team closed out the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday with a pair of wins over North Carolina Central, winning the first game 5-2 and the second game 7-1 in five innings at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex.

The Lady Pirates are now 22-29 on the season and finish the 2012 campaign with a 17-7 mark at home.

Hampton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the first game, after junior Shine Huwe (Green Bay, Wisc.) doubled to right-center field to bring home a pair of runs. Freshman Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored on an error in the second inning to put Hampton up 3-0.

Burruel then drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third to put Hampton up 4-0, before NCCU (3-43) scored in the top of the fourth to cut that lead to 4-1.

Senior Sharde' Estep (Aquasco, Md.) gave the Lady Pirates a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when she cracked her second home run of the season over the center field wall.

The Lady Eagles added a run in the top of the fifth, but never got closer than 5-2.

Senior Travonna Byrd (Newport News, Va.) picked up her 11th win of the season after striking out three batters in six innings of work. She also recorded her 19th complete game of the season.

Estep and sophomore Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) each had two hits in the first game.

Hampton opened the second game by pushing across three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) scored the first run on a wild pitch, before Wilkins brought home another run on a sac fly to right field.

Junior Carla Trimble (Riverside, Calif.) then singled down the left field line to score Estep and give Hampton a 3-0 lead. Trimble then gave Hampton a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single following a Wilkins triple.

It was Wilkins' first career triple.

After NCCU scored a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Lady Pirates' lead to 4-1, Hampton scored three runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior Rebecca Magett (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and junior Adrianna Scott (Laurel, Md.) started the inning with back-to-back singles, and they both scored when Ferguson reached on a throwing error.

Estep then brought in another run with a groundout to put Hampton on top 7-1.

The second game was called after four and a half innings because of darkness.

Byrd picked up her 12th win of the season, tossing her 20th complete game. She struck out two and gave up just two hits in the outing.

Trimble and Scott each went 2-for-2 at the plate.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday and Sunday, when they close the regular season with a three-game set at Norfolk State. Saturday's game will start at 4 p.m., with a Sunday doubleheader following at 12 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.