By: Juamarley Miller

Monday afternoon, the Delaware State University softball team (17-16, 10-2 MEAC) clinched its first series sweep against the Hampton Pirates (12-22, 4-5) since 2012. With this victory the red hot Hornets recorded its sixth consecutive win and also improving to 8-1 at home this season.

The game started off slow for both teams as little production was shown throughout the first four innings. While heading into the fifth inning, DSU’s sophomore infielder/outfielder Khaliyah Flournory smacked a fly ball into left field to secure a spot on third base.

Next at bat, was sophomore Mika Lumsden who drove in Flournory with a single to left field tying the game at one a piece.

The following inning for the Pirates ended with junior pitcher Tara Tursellino striking out Jada Fields for one of her seven K’s of the afternoon.

Hornets took the lead after sophomore Vanessa Washington hit a double to send her to second base, setting up Danielle Velez to connect for a clutch two-out single in her first at bat to bring home Washington from second.

For the next few innings it was the Hornets job to maintain the lead from the Pirates. Tursellino stayed hot as she struck out Pirates Taylor Clark. Hornet fans bit their nails as Pirates Sarah Kollas slapped a stand-up double which hit the left field wall and nearly went over the fence.

However, a sigh of relief was created when Diamond Ponds lined out to Tursellino to secure the series sweep for the Hornets.

Tursellino turned in arguably her best game of the season while tying her season-high strike total for a game. She allowed five hits and no walks for her sixth complete-game performance.

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will hit the road for six consecutive games, beginning with a three-game series against Morgan State this weekend. Last season, DSU took two out of three from the Bears at home, capped off by a 12-0 five-inning victory in the series finale.