RIVERSIDE, CA --- The Howard softball team opened their run at the University of California Riverside Highlander Classic with a two-game split today, falling to the University of North Carolina Greensboro before snapping their 12-game losing streak with a win over the host Highlanders.

HOWARD 1, UNCG 11 (F/5)
For the second time in three games, the Howard offense struggled to put together hits, managing one out of 15 at-bats. Their only score came in the fourth inning while trailing 7-0  as junior Dominique Lawrence drove in sophomore Deja Henderson on a sacrifice ground out. Henderson set up Lawrence's RBI with the only recorded hit. a double to center field,

HOWARD 4, UC RIVERSIDE 2
HU fell behind in the bottom of the third after giving up a sacrifice groundout but quickly tied the game in the top of the fourth. Four straight Lady Bison batters made contact to set up their first score. Senior Al'Asia Davis opened the inning with a single to left field. A pair of outs - a Henderson sacrifice bunt and a groundout from sophomore Imani Ballard - moved Davis from first to third. Lawrence brought Davis home with a single down the right field line before the inning ended on a line out from sophomore Milan Poindexter.

Howard would pull ahead with a three-run fifth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Davis drew a walk that brought junior Sade Estes home and gave HU a 2-1 lead. After a strikeout by Henderson, Ballard came to the plate and hit a two-run single to left center that drove in redshirt junior Jasmine Gammons and sophomore Rejanae Brooks.

UC Riverside would respond with one run in the bottom of the fifth but the Howard defense would blank the Highlanders in the final two innings to secure the victory.

Junior Janessa Flynn was credited with the win for Howard (2-14), making her the winning pitcher for both of HU's victories so far this season. Flynn pitched four shutout innings, only giving up two hits and three walks while striking out two in the process.

As a team, the Lady Bison did not commit an error for the first time all season.

NEXT UP: HU will play one game in the Highlander Classic against UC Riverside on Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern.