CHARLESTON, SC --- The Howard softball team combined for eight runs and 12 hits to earn their first victory of the season in an 8-1 victory over the University of Toledo Friday morning. The win for the Lady Bison (1-2) came in the opening game of Charleston Southern University's second softball tournament this spring.
 
HU did most of its damage against Toledo (2-4) in the first inning, as the Lady Bison scored six runs in the top half of the inning alone.
 
A pair of walks and a single by sophomore Imani Ballard loaded the bases for fellow sophomore Milan Poindexter. Poindexter would capitalize, driving senior Al'Asia Davis in for a 1-0 lead.
 
After a fielder's choice stopped sophomore Alex Flynn from scoring, redshirt junior Jasmine Gammons forced another fielder's choice that did score a runner as Poindexter came home. A throwing error by Toledo's shortstop at home allowed Ballard to come in as well, moving Howard's lead to 3-0.
 
Junior Janessa Flynn - who started at pitcher for the second straight game - hit a sacrifice fly to bring senior Jenny Ly across the plate. Two batters later, a single by junior Sade Estes drove home Gammons to give the Lady Bison a 5-0 edge.
 
After another single by Davis, Toledo was forced to pull its starting pitcher. Howard would keep up the pressure though, as Flynn hit a RBI single right after the switch to put Howard up 6-0 before the inning would close.
 
The Rockets would get on the board after three two-out singles led to a run coming home in the bottom of the second.
 
Scoring would stay quiet for the next three innings before Howard added a pair of runs after Poindexter hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Davis and Alex Flynn made it home after an error by Toledo's centerfielder.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES: Poindexter: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R / Ballard: 3-for-4, R / J. Flynn: W (1-1), 4.0 IP, 3 K, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 ER
 
 
HOWARD 0, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 8 (F/5)
 
Against the host Buccaneers, Howard failed to capitalize on its earlier momentum as the Lady Bison were shut out for the first time this season. 
The Lady Bison pitchers only gave up six total hits but three of them were home runs that drove in five runs.
 
On the flip side, HU managed only three hits in 17 at bats.