The Canisius softball team split a doubleheader on day two of the Hampton Pirate Invitational, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 15-2 in the opener before falling 4-1 to the host Pirates in the second game of the day. Canisius is now 8-4 on the season.

Game One - Canisius 15, UMES 2

Meghan Cuda went 4-for-6 with four RBI and two triples while Valorie Nappo was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jen Consaul went the distance to pick up the win, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five. The junior helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI.

The Griffs took the early lead by scoring a run in the top of the first. Robin Kennery reached on a two-out error, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Valorie Nappo. The Griffs extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth as Consaul led off with a double. After two fly outs, Cuda tripled to right center to score Consaul. An infield single from Michelle DelPrince scored Cuda and gave the Griffs the 3-0 lead.

The Hawks came back with two runs in the fourth, but the Griffs regained control with a three-run top of the fifth. Stephanie Pfentner started the inning with a single before back-to-back foul outs for the Griffs. A walk to Consaul and infield single from Bethany DeMarco loaded the bases. An RBI single from Alexis Roman and a two-RBI single from Cuda gave the Griffs a 6-2 lead. The Griffs broke the game open with two more runs in the sixth, getting a two-RBI single from Consaul and then put the game away with a seven-run seventh inning.

Game Two - Hampton 4, Canisius 1

Hampton took advantage of a Canisius error to score three runs in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. The Griffs got one back in the top of the fourth when DelPrince led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kennery, advanced to third on a single from Pfentner and scored on an RBI groundout from Valorie Nappo. The Pirates regained the three-run lead in the fifth as the Griffs went scoreless the rest of the way.

Amanda Baun took the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, in two innings. Baun struck out three and walked four. Consaul allowed one run in four innings of relief.

Canisius returns to the field next weekend in Fairfax, Va. for the George Mason Cherry Blossom Classic. The Griffs open play with two games on Friday, playing Pittsburgh at 12:15 p.m. and the host George Mason at 4:45 p.m.