MONTGOMERY, Ala. (February 22, 2020) – Howard University softball team dropped a pair of games at the Stinger Classic, hosted by Alabama State, against North Alabama, 2-10 (f/5), and Southeast (SE) Missouri State, 0-3. With today's results, HU went 0-4 on the weekend.
 
"We struggled to put together a full game performance this weekend and it showed with the scores," said Howard softball head coach Tori Tyson after Saturday's contests. "The scores are so lopsided because we haven't put together a full pitching, defense, and hitting performance. We will and it will be special."
 
Sophomore Camille Navarro (Los Angeles) led the way despite the team's tough weekend, producing a hit in all four games, including a pair of 1-of-3 performances against North Alabama (UNA) and SE Missouri State.
 
"Camille [Navarro] has been impressive in the leadoff spot," said Tyson on her second-year slugger. "We just have to start stringing some hits together and we will."
 
UNA pounced on the Bison early in game one, scoring seven runs in the first two innings, 0-7.
 
Top three, Navarro and newcomer Te'La Beard (Bakersfield, Calif.) each drove in a run and sliced the margin down to five, 2-7, but North Alabama scored three times in the fourth to end the contest early, 2-10.
 
Although the young pitchers struggled in game one, they responded in the nightcap. Sophomore Sydney Hixenbaugh (Millstone, N.J.) and freshman Nevaeh Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) held the high-powered Redhawks to three runs (two earned).
 
"SE [Southeast] Missouri [State] is a good hitting team," Tyson added. "That was a great showing from our pitchers considering the run production that team has had [this season]."
 
Entering the weekend, SE Missouri State scored 40 runs in their first four contests.
 
After tossing three innings and allowing two runs (one earned), Hixenbaugh handed the ball to Castruita where she also pitched three innings and gave up only two hits.
 
"We've seen Nevaeh [Castruita] really break thru and win some battles," Tyson expressed on her freshman pitcher. "These freshmen are being thrown out there and they are learning with every pitch. Keeping them mentally strong is my focus because the lessons are there."
 
SE Missouri State scored twice in the third and added an insurance run in the fifth.
 
"As a young team, we are seeing what a challenge it is to play a complete game at the [NCAA] Division I level," Tyson continued. "Luckily, all these hard lessons are being learned now and not on our quest to be MEAC [Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference] champions."
 
After a long weekend in Montgomery, Ala., the Bison will go to Hampton, Va., for the Hampton Classic, hosted by the Lady Pirates (Feb. 29 - March 1).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.