Morgan State 10, Hampton 1
HAMPTON, Va. (April 5, 2009)-Lydia Rodriguez, who went 2-for-3 with a game-high three runs scored and Tamra Griffin, who finished 2-for-2, including a homerun, each drove in a game-high three runs, to lead visiting Morgan State to a 10-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over Hampton in five innings on Sunday evening at Lady Pirates Field.
With the win, Morgan State (11-6, 4-1 MEAC) won the season series over Hampton, two games to three, to complete its first season series win over the Lady Pirates in over six years.
The Lady Bears began the game with their first two batters getting hit, before Rodriguez doubled through the left side to score two runs. Carolynn Howard later grounded out to short to score Rodriguez and give the guests an early 3-0 lead.
Hampton (14-16, 1-2 MEAC) scored its lone run in the bottom of the second inning with a double down the left field line by Rebecca Magett, scoring Sharde Estep to cut the Morgan deficit to 3-1.
The Lady Bears bats came back to life in the third when Rodriguez’s ground rule double scored Devina Brown and Griffin followed with a two-run homer to center field, increasing the Morgan State lead to 6-1.
Morgan then added to its lead with four more runs in the fifth. Griffin first doubled to center field, scoring Rodriguez; Sakina Smith scored on a pass ball, making it an 8-1 game and Kriston Gowan doubled to left field to score Angela Nunez. Hannah Montgomery then reached on a bunt single, while Gowan, who was rounding third, appeared to be caught in a run down. But Gowan, while extending the play to allow Montgomery to advance to third, eventually dove between the legs of the Hampton catcher to score the Lady Bear’s 10th run of the game.
Morgan State sophomore pitcher Megan Johnson, who earned the win for the Lady Bears, improved to 5-1 on the season and would retire the Lady Pirates in order in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the 10-1 win for Morgan State. Johnson, who pitched a complete game, surrendering one run on six hits, also recorded four strikeouts to reach the 100-plateau, giving her 103 strikeouts for her career.
Amanda Black was charged with the loss for the Lady Pirates. Black pitched three innings, surrendering six runs on five hits and had a strikeout.
Morgan State returns to action on Saturday, April, 11, when it plays host to Maryland Eastern Shore in a MEAC doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Lois T. Murray Field. The third game of the series will be on Sunday, April 12 at noon.