GREENSOBOR, N.C. – The Howard University softball team started the 2017 season off with a pair of losses on opening day of the Aggie Invitational, hosted by North Carolina A&T on Friday.

Game 1: UMBC 12, Howard 6

Monica Thompson got the first start of the 2017 campaign in the circle, splitting time with Alexa Walker as each went 3.0 innings. Thompson had Howard's only strikeout and allowed eight runs on seven hits before being replaced by Walker, who let in four runs (three earned) on five hits.

The Bison got on the scoreboard quickly in the top of the first. Alex Flynn's leadoff single would eventually score on a pop up before Kamryn Tillman walked and was brought in on a single by Deja Henderson. Imani Ballard and Henderson added two more runs after a wild pitch and passed ball allowed them to stretch the lead to 4-0.

A throwing error by Howard and RBI single for the Retrievers cut the deficit to 4-2 by the end of the first inning. UMBC tied things up in the second with a two-RBI triple before scoring on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly in the third for a 6-4 advantage.

The Retrievers broke the game open in the fourth with five runs to put the Bison down 11-4.

Howard got a run back in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Ballard but UMBC was fast to respond with a run of its own.

In the seventh, Ballard crushed the first home run of the season over the left field fence.

Game 2: N.C. A&T 9, Howard 8

It came down to the seventh inning in Howard's 9-8 setback to N.C. A&T. The Bison were fighting an uphill battle throughout the game as the Aggies jumped out to 7-0 lead in the second.

Howard tallied three runs in third, starting with Ballard and Alannah Baiyina scoring on an error by the second baseman. With two outs, Tiana Lopez singled to plate Tillman to round out the inning.

The Bison added another trio of runs in the fourth. After two quick outs, Ballard stepped up and connected on a double to drive in Baiyina. Tillman hit a two-RBI double that brought Ballard and Chloe Lyon home to cut the deficit to 7-6.

The Aggies notched a run on a passed ball in the fifth. Howard kept the pressure on in the sixth as Ballard and Tillman scored on a single and error to tie the game at 8.

Although the Bison were able to get two hits in the top of the seventh, they left a runner stranded and N.C. A&T earned the game-winning run on a single to right field.

Howard continues play in the Aggie Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 18 when it takes on Appalachian State at 1 p.m.