NORFOLK, Va. (February 19, 2022) – Howard University softball team rallied to knock off Quinnipiac (QU), 6-5, in their home opener at Washington Nationals Youth Academy in Southeast D.C.
 
Reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) led the comeback, going 3-of-4 with two RBIs, including the walk-off RBI double.
 
QU scored first in the opening frame, but the Bison answered with two runs in the bottom half to take a 2-1 edge after one.
 
After a solo homer from the Bobcats' Kayla Thomas tied the contest at two apiece, Quinnipiac tallied three runs in the fourth and took a commanding 5-2 advantage after four innings.
 
Bottom six, newcomer Victoria Brown (Carson, Calif.) pinched hit and delivered a RBI triple down the right field line and pulled the Bison within two, 5-3. Moments later, the California native stole home and cut the deficit to one after six, 5-4.
 
In their final at-bat, MEAC Preseason Player of the Year Camille Navarro (Los Angeles) led the rally with a game-tying RBI double to right field, 5-5.
 
Two batters later, Vasquez drilled a walk-off RBI double to centerfield to give the Bison their first home win of the season.
 
Navarro went 2-of-4 with a pair of doubles in the win.
 
Graduate Analise De La Roca (San Pedro, Calif.) earned her first win as a Bison, tossing 4.2 innings out the bullpen.
 
Sunday (Feb. 20), the Bison host Big 12 foe Iowa State at noon, followed by a 2 p.m. start time against the Bobcats.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.