WASHINGTON, DC --- The Howard softball team began its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference & home series by taking one of two games against Maryland Eastern Shore in doubleheader action Saturday afternoon at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (Nationals Jr. Park).

The Lady Bison were able to grind out a 2-0 victory in the first game against the Lady Hawks while seeing a late rally fall short in Game 2 in a 6-5 defeat.

HOWARD 2, UMES 0

Compared to the high scoring nature of Howard's games this season (23 games producing eight or more runs combined), the opening game of the series turned into a defensive, low scoring affair. Outside of getting a pair of runners on second and third in the second innng, the Lady Bison struggled to put together any solid offense while keeping UMES to the same fate.

However, sophomore Imani Ballard and junior Dominique Lawrence would end the scoring drought in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the sixth.

With one out in the inning, Ballard stepped to the plate and belted a solo homerun - her second of the year - over the left field fence to give HU a 1-0 lead. Lawrence batted next and sent her shot over the wall in nearly the exact same spot.

The low score would suffice in the end thanks to the complete game, three-hit shutout thrown by junior Janessa Flynn. She also recorded four strikeouts and didn't walk a batter during the game.

HOWARD 5, UMES 6

In most instances, the five runs Howard posted in game two of the doubleheader would easily put HU in line for a victory. However, the Lady Bison fell victim to a six-run outburst by UMES in the top of the fifth.

Five hits and a pair of HU errors led to the Lady Hawks' half dozen runs and separation. Even facing a five run deficit, the Lady Bison nearly erased the disadvantage immediately.

The home side of the fifth saw Ballard hit a RBI single; Lawrence log a RBI on a groundout; Ballard score on a passed ball; and redshirt junior Jasmine Gammons hit a RBI double.

Unfortunately, HU would the tying run on base in each of the final two innings to spoil the rally.