GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Hampton University swept a doubleheader against North Carolina A&T on Wednesday afternoon at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex, taking the first game 7-2 before winning the second game 6-4.
 
The Lady Pirates (8-16) have won each of their last three games.
 
Hampton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the first game, after freshman Allyson Babinsack (Hampton, Va.) smacked a two-run home run – her second of the season – which scored senior Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.).
 
The Lady Pirates added a run in the top of the third on an RBI groundout from junior Jessica Reiman (Massillon, Ohio), scoring Wilkins to give Hampton a 3-0 lead, before the Lady Aggies got on the board in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 3-1.
 
A sacrifice fly from sophomore Taylor Clark (Queen Creek, Ariz.) in the fourth gave the Lady Pirates a 4-1 lead, before N.C. A&T responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-2.
 
Clark hit a two-run double to left field in the sixth inning, scoring junior McKalee Rouse (Aledo, Texas) and freshman Jada Fields (Woodland Park, N.J.), to give Hampton a 6-2 lead, before adding a run in the top of the seventh on a home run from Wilkins, her first of the season.
 
Wilkins went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in the first game, and Clark drove in a team-high three runs.
 
Babinsack picked up her fifth win of the season, striking out three and scattering five hits over seven innings.
 
The Lady Pirates had to stage a comeback in the second game, as North Carolina A&T held a 3-0 lead after two innings. Hampton got on the board in the top of the third, as Wilkins and sophomore Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.) executed a double steal; Budden scored to cut the lead to 3-1.
 
Hampton followed that up with three runs in the top of the fourth, starting with a sacrifice fly from junior Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) that scored Babinsack. Fields followed with a two-run home run, the first of her career, to center field to give the Lady Pirates a 4-3 lead.
 
The Lady Aggies tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Wilkins scored on an error in the top of the fifth inning, breaking the tie before McCoy brought in another run with a double to center field, scoring junior Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.) and giving the Lady Pirates a 6-4 lead.
 
Wilkins and Taylor each had two hits. McCoy and Fields each drove in a team-high two runs.
 
Fields and Babinsack combined to strike out four, and Babinsack picked up her sixth win to get to 6-6 as a pitcher this season.
 
The Lady Pirates will return home this weekend for a three-game conference slate against Delaware State. 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.