SAVANNAH, GA --- The Howard softball team opened its 2015 campaign with a pair of road Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) cross-divisional games against the Savannah State Lady Tigers on Thursday. The Lady Bison fell in both games, 12-4 (6 inn.) and 8-7

HOWARD 4, SAVANNAH STATE 12 (F/6)

The Lady Bison opened the game with a clinic in effective small ball. Senior Al'Asia Davis opened the game with a single and sophomore Alex Flynn advanced her to second on a ground out to third. After freshman Brooklyn Emory struck out looking, Davis stole third and sophomore Milan Poindexter drove her home with a RBI single. HU would get one more single before ending the inning on a strikeout by junior Jasmine Gammons.

However, the Lady Bison's early lead would be quickly undone after the team allowed four hits and committed three errors, leading to a six-run inning for the Tigers.

HU trimmed SSU's lead to two in the top of the third by scoring three runs in the inning. With one out in, senior Jenny Ly reached first on a Tigers error to load the bases. Gammons would bat next and hit an RBI single to make the score 6-2. Howard's next two runs would come without much effort - sophomore Rejanae Brooks drew a bases loaded walk and Ly scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-4.

Savannah State went up 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth after a solo homerun and put the game away in the sixth with a five-run outburst. SSU closed out the game with a RBI single, a two-run homer and a two-run double that pushed the score into the mercy rule. 

HOWARD 7, SAVANNAH STATE 8

Howard showed resilence in the backend of the doubleheader where teams of the past may have wilted under the pressure. After giving up a RBI single in the bottom of the second, the Lady Bison responded with a pair of runs in the next half inning. 

Junior Janessa Flynn, who was given the ball as starting pitcher for the game, helped her own cause by hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in junior Sade Estes and tie the game. On the next at bat, sophomore Imani Ballard gave Howard the lead with a RBI single down the right field line that brought home senior Al'Asia Davis.

SSU hit Howard with another big inning in the bottom half as the Lady Tigers scored four runs off five hits and one HU error to go up 5-2 after three innings.

In the top of the fourth, Ly and Gammons hit back-to-back doubles with Gammons getting the RBI for driving Ly home before Howard's next three batters were retired.

Savannah State's Torrian Wright - the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year - blasted her second home run in as many games to match Howard's score and keep SSU ahead by three, 6-3.

Howard cut their deficit to one 6-5) in the top of the fifth on a pair of error driven runs by Davis and Ballard and took the lead in the top of the sixth. The Lady Bison tied the game at 6-6 after Flynn got a hit and advanced on a throw, which helped Estes come home from first base. Ballard gave Howard the lead after a liner to left field was misplayed and allowed Flynn to score.

Unfortunately, in the bottom of the sixth, SSU came through with enough plays to take the lead for good. With two outs down, the Lady Tigers tied the contest with a RBI triple. Soon thereafter, a throwing error at the catcher spot by Ly allowed the eventual game-winning run to come home from third.

HU attempted a final rally in the top of the seventh, with Ly opening the inning with a single and Gammons getting Ly to second on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch eventually moved Ly to third but a strikeout from sophomore Deja Henderson and pop out by freshman Brooklyn Emory ended the Lady Bison's chances.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Sade Estes: .500 (3-for-6), 2 R, 2 SB in two games 

NEXT UP: Howard begins a three-day slate at the Charleston Southern Tournament. The team plays Toledo (9 a.m.) and CSU (3 p.m.) on Friday.