WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard University Bison saw their five-game win streak snap, and lose straight games for the first time this season at Nationals Youth Park versus Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe Delaware State University.
The Lady Hornets swept day one doubleheader taking game one, 1-3, and game two 3-4 in extra innings. DSU carried the momentum into Sunday, taking game one 2-4, while Howard took the final game of the series, 5-3.
The Bison is 8-5, and 1-3 MEAC after the weekend series, while the Lady Hornets is 5-5, and 3-1.
GAME 1, L 3-1
The Bison saw their five-game win streak snap, when the offense struggled, and could only record five hits.
Delaware got the scoring started in the top of the first inning on an RBI double to centerfield, to take an early 1-0 lead.
Howard recorded their only run in the bottom of the second inning on a
Shayna Swanson (Sammamish, WA) RBI single to left field,
Savanna Rainey (Madison, WI) scored on the play. The Bison could not take advantage of bases loaded with the next batter lined into a double play at first.
Delaware State answered back big, in the top of the third, when the Lady Hornets took a pitch over the centerfield wall for a two-run homerun to take a 3-1 lead.
Sydney Hixenbaugh (Millstone, N.J.) recorded her third loss of the season, pitching 2 1/3, giving up three runs and four hits, while striking out three.
Kiana Carr came in relief and pitched 4.2 innings giving up two hits, no runs, and striking out seven.
DSU's Maikyla Nelson pitched seven complete innings giving up one run and five hits striking out two for the win.
GAME 2, L 4-3
Howard lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, as the Bison could not pull the comeback falling in extra innings 4-3.
The game remained scoreless when Delaware St. hit a two-out, two-run homerun to left-center field to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
Kalita Dennis got the Bison on board with a solo homerun to left field to cut the lead, 2-1 in the bottom of the four.
Delaware State extended the lead 3-1, with an RBI single to center field.
Howard rallied in the seventh inning, taking advantage of a throwing error, that scored a run and would later score a second run on an RBI single to tie the game at three, in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings.
Delaware State added a run in the eighth to escape with a 4-3 win after Howard could not advance the runner from third base.
Kiana Cara recorded her first loss of the season, 4-1, got the nod in the circle, pitched a complete eight innings, allowing four runs, and four hits, while striking out nine.
Game 3, L 4-2
Delaware State carried their momentum from day one into Sunday's game one, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, and added two more in the top of the fifth, for a 4-0 advantage.
Howard's offense struggles continued only recording 4 hits through the first five innings when the Bison got on the board.
Sydni Jones led the inning off with a single to left field and scored on a
Natalie Davila RBI double to right-center field to cut the score 4-1. Lou Aguilasocho RBI infield single scored
Kalita Dennis to cap the scoring at 4-2.
Luz Aguilasocho was the only Bison to record multiple hits.
Tracy Mosley recorded her first loss of the season pitching 4.1 innings, giving up four earn runs and four hits, while striking out three.
Game 4, W 5-3
Howard ends losing streak, defeating the Lady Hornets 5-3.
The Bison jumped on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Sydni Jones led off with a single up the middle and later scored on a
Savanna Rainey RBI double up the middle. Rainey scored on an Aguilasocho RBI to center field to take the lead, 2-0.
Jones recorded a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Navarro and Beard. Jones scored on a Davila RBI to single to centerfield.
Delaware State answered back with a three-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer to left field. Carr would settle down and retire the next six batters to record her fifth victory of the season. Pitched seven full innings allowing three runs, and six hits, striking out nine.
Jones, Navarro, and Rainey recorded multiple hits.
Jones recorded two runs and two RBIs in the win.
Notable Numbers:
Navarro 5-of-15 (.467), 14 game hitting streak dating back to last season, two doubles, and a run
Jones 5-of-13(.385), four runs, two RBIs, and a stolen base
Rainey 3-of-9, two doubles, and an RBI
Dennis 3-of-13 HR, RBI
Kiana Carr appeared in four games, starting in two. Carr earned a 2.86 ERA, struck out 25 batters.
UP NEXT:
Howard will travel to Norfolk State for a four-game series versus the Spartans. Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21.
