WASHINGTON (March 13, 2023) - Howard University softball team returned to The Capitol Monday afternoon in a big way, sweeping Bryant University in midweek doubleheader at Nationals Youth Academy. With the today's victories, the Bison improve to a 6-13 record while the Bulldogs sit 4-11.
 
GAME 1: HOWARD 5, BRYANT 4
 
HU produced five runs on seven hits, led by newcomer Maryn Jordan (San Diego) going 2-of-3 with two runs scored.
 
Bryant opened the game with three-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run double down the leftfield line, but sophomore Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.) responded with a two-run homer to left field and cutting the deficit to one after the first inning, 3-2.
 
In an effort to widen the gap, Bryant sent a sac fly out to right field to bring a Bulldog across the bag. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) capitalized on a throwing error at short to keep the Bison within one run, 4-3.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, things picked up for the Bison in the fifth.
 
Ricks continued the action on the field when the Bulldogs grounded out to second before popping up to Ricks the following play.
 
With sophomore Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) throwing heat, the Bulldogs finished the inning with the next batter up striking out swinging. In the bottom of the inning, sophomore Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) tied it up, 4-4, when she hit a single to center, bringing in first-year Bison Maryn Jordan (San Diego)
 
Howard finished their comeback crusade in the sixth when sophomore Victoria Brown (Carson, Calif.) singled up the middle to bring fellow classmate Alyssa Watson (Eastvale, Calif.) across the plate. 
 
Striking out nearly a third of batters faces across five innings, Gonzales picked up her third win of the season. 
 
GAME 2: HOWARD 11, BRYANT 6
 
Howard racked up 11 runs on 12 hits, highlighted by Brown going 3-of-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the victory.
 
In an effort to bounce back from the fresh defeat, the Bulldogs opened the second game with a home run over center field before picking up four runs in the top of the second.  
 
Down 5-0 and hungry to get on the board, Fletcher livened up the Bison when she tripled to right field with eyes set on home. Zero outs on the board, Brown singled short at the next at-bat, giving Fletcher time to run home for the second time today.
 
Keeping the momentum going, sophomore Payton Quinonez (Tulare, Calif.) reached on an error, pushing Brown to second. Fellow classmate Jade Greene (Upper Marlboro, Md.) walked on the following at-bat to load the bases. With the stage set, Ricks battled it out at the plate and, with a full count on the board, she walked to keep the bases loaded while bringing Brown across the bag.  
 
The Bison continued to eat in the bottom of the second. Vazquez lined to second, reaching first base on an error while Greene and Quinonez crossed home. Two outs at hand, chants blaring from the dugout, the explosive second inning continued. Up next, senior captain Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) drilled a hit to right field to reach first and sent in two for HU for a 6-5 lead. The Bison worked in one final run, thanks to a single from Brown before grounding out to short for the final out. 
 
The Bulldogs sent another homer in the top of the third for the only run of the inning. Dennis also highlighted the top of the third when she ran for a diving catch in right field to come up with the Bulldog's second out.
 
After an empty fourth inning, the Bison pulled away, sending in two more runners, both off grounded outs to shortstop for a 9-6 lead in the fifth. 
 
Howard held off the Bulldog's in the sixth before finishing out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth. HU closed out with Fletcher reaching second on an error, forcing Dennis to third and sending Vasquez home. The Bison followed up with another runner the very next play when Brown grounded out to second, giving Dennis time to seal the deal with an insurance run.
 
First-year Bison Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) earned her second win of the season in a reserve role.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bison host long-time rival Hampton University Wednesday (March 15) at Nationals Youth Academy in their Black Out game. First-pitch is at 5 p.m.
 
For more information, visit meacsports.com or the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.