CLEARWATER, Fla. (February 11, 2023) – Howard University softball team earned a split on opening day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
 
HOWARD 10, SOUTHERN 6
 
After falling in the opener, HU rebounded with a 10-6 victory over Southern and earned its first win of the season.
 
Howard produced 10 runs on 14 hits, led by sophomore Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) going 3-of-5 with on the nightcap.
 
HU trailed after one, 2-0, but got on the board with an RBI-walk from newcomer Maryn Jordan (San Diego) to cut the margin in half, 2-1.
 
Next inning, second-year Bison Alyssa Watson (Eastvale, Calif.) delivered an RBI-single to center, driving in graduate Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.), and tied the contest after three, 2-2.
 
Howard took its first lead in the fourth, scoring three runs while capitalizing on Jags' miscues, 5-2.
 
HU added a pair of runs in the fifth to extend its advantage to five, 7-2, and Jordan delivered a two-run single to left to balloon the lead to seven, 9-2.
 
Southern refused to go away, registering four runs in the six while slicing the deficit to three, 9-6.
 
In Howard's final at-bat, senior Luz Aguilasocho (Grand Terrace, Calif.) drove in Dennis with an RBI single to put the game away.
 
HOWARD 1, #12 TENNESSEE 21
 
In the season opener, No. 12 Tennessee defeated the Bison, 21-1.
 
UT held the Bison attack to only two hits while registering 21 runs on 12 hits of their own.
 
Tennessee scored five runs in the first frame and never looked back.
 
In the fourth, Dennis prevented the shutout with an RBI-double to right center and drove in Jordan for the score.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Saturday (Feb.11), Howard is scheduled to play Prairie View A&M and Indiana. Game times are slated for 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.