ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Hampton University softball team dropped its first game of the 2016 MEAC Championships Thursday afternoon, falling 6-3 to Bethune-Cookman at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
The Lady Pirates (19-27) dropped to the consolation bracket and will face North Carolina A&T at 4:30 p.m.
 
Bethune-Cookman, the No. 2 seed out of the Southern Division, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning; following back-to-back walks, Iesha Waters homered down the left field line to give the Wildcats the early lead.
 
Hampton, the No. 3 seed out of the Northern Division, answered in the top of the fourth. After freshman Hope Sobelewski was hit by a pitch with one out, sophomore Jada Fields homered to left center field to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
It was Fields' third home run of the season.
 
The Wildcats then scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, ultimately taking a 6-2 lead after a sac fly from Waters.
 
Senior Diamond Ponds led off the top of the sixth with a single, before advancing to second on a walk to junior Danielle Budden. Ponds then advanced to third on a flyout from Sobelewski, before scoring on a throwing error to cut the lead to 6-3.
 
Ponds, Fields, junior Kayla DeSchepper, and freshman Daniella Milloy each had a hit for the Lady Pirates, with Fields driving in a team-high two runs.
 
Freshman Allie Hotetz struck out four in six innings.
 
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.