CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (February 25, 2023) – Howard University softball team dropped a high-scoring, slugfest to St. John's, 11-7, at the Cavalier Classic, hosted by the University of Virginia.
 
HU manufactured nine runs on 15 hits, led by second-year Bison Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) going a perfect 3-of-3 with two doubles and a pair of runs scored in the loss. Overall, five Bison produced multi-hit performances.
 
St. John's (3-9) scored two unearned runs in the opening frame and held a 2-0 advantage after two innings of play.
 
Bottom three, the Red Storm's Katie Whittaker delivered a two-run shot to center field and extended the margin, 4-0.
 
Howard responded in the fourth, tallying six runs on seven hits and taking its first lead of the game, 6-4, but St. John's answered with four runs and regained the upper hand after four innings, 8-6.
 
After the Red Storm scored another run in the fifth, sophomore Alyssa Watson (Eastvale, Calif.) singled through the left side and drove in Vasquez to cut the deficit to two, 9-7.
 
Bottom six, St. John's closed out the scoring with two insurance runs, 11-7.
 
For St. John's, Whittaker went a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate with four RBIs, including a two-run homer.
 
Sunday (Feb. 26), HU closes out the weekend with host Virginia and crosstown rival Georgetown. First pitches are slated for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.