BALTIMORE, Md. – The Howard University softball team put up a tough fight but fell twice to MEAC foe Morgan State on Sunday afternoon at Lois T. Murray Field. The Bison opened today's doubleheader with a 2-0 setback before dropping a 4-3 decision to close the three-game series.
Howard dropped to 0-22 overall and 0-6 in MEAC action, while MSU improved to 12-10 (3-0 MEAC).
GAME ONE: Morgan State 2, Howard 0
MSU's Amy Begg threw 6.2 innings and gave up just one hit to blank Howard, 2-0.
Imani Ballard recorded the only hit for the Bison. In the circle, Alex Flynn (0-6) tossed 6 innings as she gave up four hits and two runs with a pair of strikeouts.
Ballard opened the game with a lead-off single but the rest of the offense couldn't find its rhythm as Begg delivered 11 strikeouts.
The Lady Bears scored in the first and third innings on an RBI single and triple.
GAME TWO: Morgan State 4, Howard 3
Timely hits were the difference maker in the 4-3 loss for Howard as Morgan State posted the go-ahead run late in the fifth.
Alexa Walker (0-10) allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) with three strikeouts in 6 innings of work.
Trailing 1-0 after the first, Jasmine Gibson singled before Deja Henderson walked to put a pair on. With both runners in scoring position after a ground out, Tiana Lopez showed patience to earn a walk and load the bags. Brooklyn Emory stepped up next and roped a three-run double to give the Bison a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Bears tied the game at 3-3 after the third before tacking on the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth.
Milan Poindexter, Imani Ballard, Gibson and Emory each tallied a hit for HU.
With her performance over the weekend, Ballard stretched her hitting streak to 12 games and leads the team with four multiple-hit outings.
UP NEXT: Howard returns to Nationals Youth Academy to host Coppin State, starting on Saturday, Apr. 8 with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. The teams will finish up with a single game at noon on Sunday, Apr. 9.
