Washington, D.C.-- Howard University split Saturday's doubleheader versus Robert Morris University. The Bison fell in game one 12-2 (6) and earned a 7-5 win in game two at the Nationals Youth Academy.
GAME 1 - L, 12-2 (6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
RMU exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to take game one.
The Colonials took advantage of a Bison fielding error to gain a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Howard answered back when Sydni Jones (Whittier, Ca) took a 3-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single, scoring Te'la Beard (Bakersfield, Ca).
Robert Morris added three runs in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jones added to her RBI total, knocking a single to the shortstop to bring home Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, CA) to cut the lead, 5-2.
The Colonials once again took advantage of a fielding error to load the bases that sparked a seven-run, sixth-inning.
Sidney Hixenbaugh (Millstone, N.J.) got the nod in the circle and recorded her second loss of the season. Hixenbaugh pitch six innings allow six earned runs on nine hits while striking out four and giving up two passes.
- Jones recorded two hits and two RBI's
- Camille Navarro (Los Angeles, Ca) recorded two stolen bases, her sixth and seventh this season.
GAME 2, W, 7-5
HOW IT HAPPENED
Howard's Kiana Carr (Phoenix, Az) held off a late Robert Morris charge to earn her second consecutive win, defeating the Colonials 7-5, ending RMU five-game winning streak, their best start since 2014.
RMU scored first in the top of the first, off a laser down the left-field line. Howard answered back when Dennis knocked an RBI single past the second baseman's outstretched arm to tie the game at one.
The Colonials took the lead in the top of the second on an RBI single to left field. Howard answered again, with a three-run inning. Dennis knocked in her second and third RBI after singling to second base and advanced to second after a fielding error by the first baseman; Nevaeh Catruita (South El Monte, Ca) scored in the process.
Carr held the Colonials scoreless over the next two innings when RMU tied the game in the top of the fifth inning, recording two runs.
The Bison rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring their first run off a Savanna Rainey (Madison, Wi) RBI single to the shortstop, Ayana Salle (Chesapeake, Va) scored on the play. Howard capitalized on the Colonial's mistakes, recording two unearned runs to take the lead, 7-4.
Robert Morris scored one run in the top of the seventh off a Riggle RBI double to centerfield. Carr buckled down, striking out the next batter and forcing a ground out to secure the win, 7-5.
- Dennis came up big, hitting 2-for-4 and recording three RBIs.
- Navarro, Beard, Salle, Maxie Harrington, Sastuita, and Swanson all recorded a hit. Beard and Castuita scored twice.
- Carr pitched seven innings allowing five earned runs on five hits, striking out nine.
In Carr's first two starts (Bowie and RMU), she has struck out 20 batters.
Howard improves to 3-2, while RMU falls to 5-1.
Head Coach Tori Tyson Thoughts:
on today's double-header:
"...Clearly super rusty. We saw that in the sixth [inning of game one]. We haven't had much game experience, and it showed when we needed to finish the ballgame. I challenged the ladies to come back and play for their pride. At the end of the day, we don't have the reps, so we can not rely on that. We can always play for pride, play for Howard and each other. I thought that was such a good win because we did; you saw a different energy, and we proved to ourselves that we can finish a ballgame, and still so much to clean up, but I am super proud of their bounce back..."
on Dennis return:
"...Kalita has been out since the Army game (2/20/21). I thought it was good that she came out to compete. It really didn't feel like she lost a step. We saw Kalita at her best in the second game. It always feels good to have a player of her caliber back in the lineup..."
on Carr's performance:
"...No matter what, this was going to be here game to finish. We know she needs to get her legs underneath her. We know she didn't have a lot of game experience while at Maryland, so we can put her in these environments more and more. She is the guy, and she needed to finish today, and she did. Could it be cleaner? Absolutely, and I think it's going to get cleaner as the season goes on. It was enough today, all I ask her is to put us in a position to win, and she did..."
on getting ready for tomorrow's doubleheader:
"... We feel good about splitting today, and tomorrow is a new day, and they got to decide to choose us tomorrow, as they chose us in game two, coming prepared mentally and physically..."
Howard will conclude the weekend series versus Robert Morris, Sunday for another doubleheader. The first pitch of the first game is set for noon.
