Hampton kept its season alive Friday afternoon with a 4-1 win over North Carolina A&T at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in the 2009 MEAC Softball Championship.

Sharde Estep got the Lady Pirates on the board in the first inning with a two-run single to right field, before Travonna Byrd gave Hampton a 3-1 lead in the third inning by singling home Kelsei Saunders.

Estep added a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning. She went 2-for-4 at the plate, as did Tiffany Brents.

Tangala Conover scored the lone run of the game for the Lady Aggies in the second inning.

Yahamma White and Jennifer Luper each tallied an RBI for North Carolina A&T.

Hampton’s Amanda Black went seven innings to pick up her 20th win of the season, and her second of the day, giving up six hits and one run. She walked two and struck out three.

Luper (16-12) took the loss for North Carolina A&T after striking out seven and giving up nine hits and four runs. 

Hampton moves on to face the Lady Rattler s of Florida A&M in the consolation bracket. The winner will advance to tomorrow’s championship final and will face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at 1 p.m.

Admission for the 2009 MEAC Softball Championship is $5 for children, students and seniors. Ticket prices for the entire tournament are $12.

For more information on MEAC Softball, log on to www.meacsports.com.