The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats defeated Hampton in the semifinal round of the 2012 MEAC Softball Championship on Friday afternoon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The Lady Pirates fall to the elimination bracket, where they will face either Savannah State or Florida A&M at 6 p.m. on Friday. Hampton defeated both teams on Thursday, beating Savannah State in the opening round and Florida A&M in the quarterfinals.

Bethune-Cookman advanced to their fourth straight championship game which will begin at 1 p.m.

The Lady Wildcats struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when the pushed across a pair of runs, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run double to left field from Shamaria Engram.

Aurelia Gamch drove in another run in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single to left field to put Bethune-Cookman up 3-0.

The Lady Pirates responded in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runs, when junior Nina Fergurson singled to left field to score senior Brooke Boykin. Senior Sharde' Estep followed with an RBI single of her own to cut the lead to 3-2.

Hampton had runners on second and third in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Wildcats ended the rally.

Engram led the Wildcats at the plate at 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. In the tournament, she's batting .444 with three runs scored and five RBI. Karina Romero also went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Shanel Tolbert threw her third complete game win of the tournament with three strikeouts and no walks.

Travonna Byrd struck out four batters in four innings, giving up seven hits and two earned runs. Freshman Jailynn Jackson struck out one in two innings of work.

Boykin led Hampton at the plate, going 3-for-3. Ferguson and junior Adrianna Scott each had two hits.