NORFOLK, VA-- Howard University softball team drops Sunday's doubleheader, losing game one 6-0, and game two 6-3 at NSU Softball Field after losing four starters, and defensive miscues which Norfolk State took advantage of to escape with the series win, 3-1. 

Two players were injured in game one of the series, a blow to the team's quest to get the .500 mark in conference play.  Both players will continue to be evaluated, and are day-to-day. 

The Bison fell to 9-8, 2-6 in the MEAC, while the Spartans improved to 10-12, 3-6 in the MEAC. 

Despite Howard's depleted roster, the Bison had the Spartans the top team in the north the last three seasons on the ropes. 

GAME 1, L 6-0

The Howard University softball team dropped a 6-0 decision in game one.

Camille Navarro extended her hit streak to 17, dating back to last season. 

Tracy Mosley [5-2] got the start in the circle, pitched 3.2 innings, gave up four runs, four hits, and walked four, in her second loss of the season.

The Bison offense recorded three hits and no errors. 

The Spartans scattered six runs, on eight hits. 

GAME 2, L 6-3

Howard drops game 2, 6-3 

The Bison came out strong in the first inning, after a Navarro ground out, Nevaeh Castruita single to second, she would later steal second. Norfolk State walked Natalie Davila, when Kalita Dennis lined a ground ball to the second baseman, who quickly tried to get Dennis out on a bang-bang play, the official scorer ruled an error and only awarded Dennis one RBI despite two runners scoring on the play to take an early 2-0 lead. 

Castruita scored her second run of the game on an errant throw from the Spartans to extend the lead, 3-0 in the top of the third inning. 

Kiana Carr got the start in the circle, pitched a scoreless two-innings when NSU pieced together a four-run, third inning to take the lead, 4-2 after three full innings.

The Spartans added two runs in the bottom of the sixth off a drop fly ball to shallow center field, which the official scorer ruled a double and she advanced to third "on the throw", the runner scored after stopping between first and second, the batter was awarded an RBI.  The batter later scored on a sacrifice fly after the catcher dropped a foul ball, which the official scorer did not call an error, for the final score, 6-3.

Navarro whose 17-game hit streak came to an abrupt end, had one more opportunity to extend the lead, when the official scorer, scored her hit an error on a similar play, that awarded NSU's player a hit in the previous inning.  Despite losing the hit streak, Navarro's on-base streak reached 18 games dating to last season. 

 NEXT UP:

Howard will face Morgan State University, the Bison will celebrate two seniors, graduate student Kiana Carr and senior Trinity Gibbs, April 10-11 in a four-game series.