BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University softball team beat Morgan State 9-6 on Sunday at Lois T. Murray Field, completing a three-game sweep of the Lady Bears to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.

The Lady Pirates (16-18, 3-0 MEAC) have won five straight games.

Morgan State led 2-0 after the first inning, but a three-run home run to left from junior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) in the top of the second inning put the Lady Pirates on top 3-0. It was Wilkins' fifth home run of the season, most on the team.

Hampton added three more runs in the third inning, after an RBI triple from sophomore Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.) and an RBI single from freshman McKalee Rouse (Aledo, Texas). Senior Nina Ferguson (Plymouth, Minn.) then scored on a passed ball to give the Lady Pirates a 6-2 lead.

Morgan State scored in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 6-3, before pushing across two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap to 6-5.

But Hampton answered in the top of the seventh with three runs, thanks to a two-run double from senior Carla Trimble (Riverside, Calif.) and an RBI double down the left-field line from freshman Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) to put Hampton up 9-5.

The Lady Bears (2-25, 0-3 MEAC) scored once in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't get any closer.

Wilkins went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in a team-high three runs, while Rouse went 2-for-2.

Sophomore Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.) went three innings to pick up her 12th win of the season, striking out four. She is one win shy of tying her total from last season.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Friday, when they kick off a three-game set against Delaware State at 1 p.m. at the Lady Pirates Softball Complex. 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.