HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team swept a doubleheader over Delaware State on Saturday at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, winning the first game 10-3 before taking the second game 8-0 in six innings.
 
The Lady Pirates improved to 10-5 overall and 5-0 in MEAC play.
 
The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning in the first game; after Allyson Babinsack reached on a fielder's choice, Jada Fields gave the Lady Pirates a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run, her fourth of the season, to left field. Brianna Anderson followed with a single, before stealing both second and third and later scoring on a double from Danielle Budden.
 
Budden later scored on an error to put Hampton up 4-0.
 
Hampton added a run in the bottom of the fourth, when Budden reached on a bunt single and scored on a triple from Taylor Warrick.
 
After Delaware State (10-20, 7-3 MEAC) scored three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3, the Lady Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame by pushing across five runs. Anderson led off the inning with a double before advancing to third on a sac bunt and scoring on an error.
 
Alana Vandeburg later reached on an error, scoring Budden, before Ashley Grassini followed with a three-run homer, her second of the season, to put Hampton up 10-3.
 
Budden went 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game, while Anderson, Fields and Warrick each had two hits. Grassini had a team-high three RBIs.
 
Babinsack struck out four in seven innings to pick up her sixth win of the season.
 
The Lady Pirates got the early jump on the second game as well, pushing across the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first inning after Warrick singled, stole second and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
 
Allie Hotetz then singled to lead off the bottom of the third, advancing to second and third on a pair of passed balls, and she scored on a double from Warrick to give Hampton a 2-0 lead. Budden added an RBI double of her own in the fourth to give the Lady Pirates a 3-0 lead.
 
Grassini drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth, pushing across Lorena Alvarez and putting Hampton up 4-0.
 
The Lady Pirates broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, with the first run coming when Vandenburg, pinch running, scored on an error to push the lead to 5-0. Warrick followed with a two-run triple, before Anderson reached on a fielder's choice that scored Warrick.
 
Warrick was 4-for-4 in the second game, and she drove in three runs.
 
Hotetz scattered four hits over six innings to pick up her fourth win of the season.
 
The series will wrap up on Sunday at 12 p.m. For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.