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Howard University Athletics

Scoreboard

2022 MEAC Softball Champions
MEAC Strategic Communications
4
Morgan State MSUSB 31-15
5
Winner Howard HOW 31-22
Morgan State MSUSB
31-15
4
Final
5
Howard HOW
31-22
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Morgan State MSUSB 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 8 2
Howard HOW 1 0 2 0 1 1 X 5 11 4

W: De La Roca, Analise (15-7) L: PAZ,M. (4-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Derek W. Bryant, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information

Softball Wins 2022 MEAC Title

Bison capture first league championship since 2007

NORFOLK, Va. (May 14, 2022) – No. 2 Howard University softball team took down reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champion top seeded Morgan State (MSU) in a winner-take-all bout to capture the league title for the second time in program history, outlasting the Lady Bears, 5-4, at NSU Softball Field.
 
With the victory, HU (31-22) won its first MEAC championship since 2007 while earning the conference's automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA Softball Tournament.
 
After tossing a complete-game shutout to keep the Bison's title hopes alive, graduate Analise De La Roca (San Pedro, Calif.) delivered another championship performance against the Lady Bears. The California native threw seven innings while picking up her 15th victory of the season. For her efforts, she was named the tournament's outstanding performer.
 
HU produced five runs on 11 hits in the nightcap, including nine against MEAC Pitcher of the Year Anaya Hunte.
 
MSU (31-15) took an early 2-0 advantage, but senior Xzarria Simmons (Escondido, Calif.) cut the margin in half after an RBI-single down the left field line, 2-1.
 
Howard scored twice in the third and took a 3-2 edge going into the fourth.
 
Top five, Morgan State's Melissa Paz drilled a two-run blast over the left field fence and put the Lady Bears back ahead, 4-3, until an RBI-squeeze bunt from Simmons drove in rookie Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) and tied the contest at four apiece.
 
Bottom six, freshman Jade Greene (Upper Marlboro, Md.) delivered a one-out double to left center and gave HU the go-ahead run at second. After a pitching change, senior Camille Navarro (Los Angeles) singled to short and put runners on the corners. Moments later, Ricks singled to the pitcher and drove in the go-ahead run, 5-4.
 
MSU managed to get runners on in their final at-bat, but De La Roca closed the door and struck out the final batter to give the Bison their first MEAC title in 15 years.
 
Simmons went a perfect 3-of-3 with two RBIs while fellow classmate Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) batted 3-of-4 with an RBI in the win.
 
De La Roca, Dennis, Navarro and newcomer Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Bison head coach Tori Tyson was named the tournament's outstanding coach.
 
For MSU, Paz and Victoria Fletcher were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
 
HU awaits Selection Sunday (March 15) to see where they will play in the 64-team field. The show begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
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