PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — On Wednesday (March 30), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team will host the Hampton University Pirates for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Hawk Field. If Eastern Shore can get two wins against HU, the team will have double digit wins in a season for the first time since 2017.

The Hawks (8-18, 5-1 MEAC) are coming off a series win over North Carolina Central last weekend. They dropped the first game before winning the second two games of the series on March 27. Sophomore Tatum Kresley was the catalyst for the team's strong play over the weekend as she went 10-13 with seven runs, four stolen bases and one RBI. Her play led to her being named the MEAC Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday (March 28).

Kresley is currently leading the conference in batting average at .429 and is in the top three in runs, hits and stolen bases. Her classmate Julia Garcia has also been strong at the plate all year as she is ninth in the MEAC in batting average and second in RBI.

Overall, the Hawks are second in the MEAC in batting average during conference games at .346 behind only Howard who is at .347. The squad also has the second-best ERA in conference games at 3.76.

Hampton (12-19, 3-6 Big South) comes to Princess Anne after winning their last two games versus Winthrop. The Pirates are led by Janae Lyles at the plate as she is on an 11-game hit streak coming into Wednesday. Emily Workman is the team's top pitcher with a 6-1 record and two complete games thrown.

HU also has star power with junior Mo'ne Davis. Davis rose to national prominence in 2014 when she became the first girl to ever earn a win and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series. She is now an infielder for the Pirates and has started all 31 games for them this season.

After Wednesday's doubleheader, Maryland Eastern Shore will take their longest road trip of the season this weekend (April 2-3) when they travel to South Carolina State for three games.