COLLEGE PARK, MD --- The Howard softball team traveled to the University of Maryland for their final non-conference games of the season. The Lady Bison were unable to earn a victory in the twin bill, losing Game 1 by the score of 15-0 in five innings and dropping Game 2, 10-4 in seven.


GAME 1: HOWARD 0, MARYLAND 15

Four Lady Bison registered a hit but the Howard offense was held scoreless for the second straight game and the fourth time in six contests. Freshman Alexa Walker was charged with the loss after allowing five runs in only a third of an inning. 

The closest Howard (4-32) came to scoring against Maryland (7-32) was in the first inning, when a single by freshman Alex Flynn and a double by fellow rookie Imani Ballard put the pair on third and second with one out. Junior Jenny Ly hit a grounder back to the pitcher for the second out, and after a walk by senior Ashley Turner loaded the bases, freshman Milan Poindexter popped up to third base.

GAME 2: HOWARD 4, MARYLAND 10

Howard (4-33) would make the second game closer before it eventually slipped away late. Both teams failed to score in the first inning but Maryland (8-32) proceeded to tack on five runs in the second. 

Another scoreless inning in the third preceded the Lady Bison's four-run fourth. Ballard opened the inning with a lead-off solo home run to right field and after two singles and two outs, Turner sent a three-run blast to right center to run UMD's lead to 5-4.

However, the Lady Bison's rally fell short as the team managed only one hit over the next three innings while the Terrapins scored another five runs in the fifth and sixth.

Ballard and Turner each went 1-for-3 with a home run while junior Al-Asia Davis went 2-for-3 at the plate.


Howard will conclude its season at home this weekend as the Lady Bison host Delaware State for a three game MEAC series on April 26-27. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1:00 pm while Sunday's single game will start at 12 noon.