NORFOLK, Va. (May 12, 2022) – No. 2 Howard University softball team dropped its first contest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament, falling to top seeded Morgan State (MSU), 12-5, at NSU Softball Field.
 
All-MEAC selection rookie Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) continued her hot streak in the tourney, batting 3-of-4 with four RBIs and a pair runs scored in a losing effort.
 
MSU (31-13) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after one, but the third-year Bison Luz Aguilasocho (Grand Terrace, Calif.) delivered an RBI-single to third and cut the margin to one, 2-1.
 
Bottom two, the Lady Bears answered with three runs, including a pair of homers, and ballooned the deficit to four after two innings, 5-1.
 
Next inning, Vasquez drilled a two-run shot over the left center wall and pulled the Bison within two after four, 5-3.
 
Morgan State produced four runs in the fourth and extended the lead to six, 9-3.
 
Top five, Vasquez drove in fellow classmates Jade Greene (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) with a two-run double to left field and put the Bison back in striking distance, 9-5.
 
After scoring a run in the fifth, 10-5, the Lady Bears' Tayven Rousseau sealed the deal with a two-run homer in the sixth to down HU.
 
MSU racked up 12 runs on 13 hits, led by Cayla Sweazie going 2-of-4 with three RBIs in the win. Morgan State reaches the title game for the second straight year and awaits the winner out of the loser's bracket.
 
With the setback, HU (28-22) drops to the loser's bracket where they await the winner between No. 3 Norfolk State and No. 6 Coppin State. Friday's (March 13) action is scheduled for noon.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.