RIVERSIDE, Ca. - Howard University Softball falls to a 4-9 record after going 0-2 to UC Riverside at Amy S Harrison Field over the weekend.  

HOWARD 0, UC RIVERSIDE 4 

The Bison were off to a slow start  with zero hits in the first. UCR's Leah Brito (Lake View Terrace, Calif.) put the Highlanders on the board when she sent a sac fly to right field bringing in teammate Nadia Whitt (Keizer, Ore.) and advancing another Highlander to third. That same teammate would soon steal home to give UCR a 2-0 advantage. 

Sophomore Alyssa Watson (Eastvale, Calif.) posed a chance to put the Bison on the board. when her single to left center set her up advance to third on a wild pitch two batters later. I line out to second base was the final out before Watson was left on base.  

The scoreboard remained still until the bottom of the fifth when the Highlanders converted two hits into two runs to earn a 4-0 lead. After letting those two get by her, first-year Carleen Murray (British Columbia, Canada) came back strong in the bottom of the sixth striking out all three batters up at bat. 

HU finished out with three hits in the 4-0 loss. 

HOWARD 0, UC RIVERSIDE 8  (f/6)

The Bison held off the Highlanders slightly longer in game two. After leaving a runner on base the first two innings, UCR opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Lauryn Garewal ( Banning, Calif.) stole home. Whitt made another run for UCR for a 2-0 lead. 

In the top of the fourth, Howard answered back sending two hits of their own before striking out with two on base. 

UCR singled to left field giving the Highlanders a chance to bring one in before another advanced to third. The hopeful tried for home but first-year catcher Kelyse Stewart (Lee's Summit, Mo.) stopped the rushing Highlander in her tracks. The next at bat, UC Riverside stole second and seized the opportunity to advance home on a single to left field.  

The Highlanders hit a home run bringing in two more runners for a 6-0 advantage. Stolen bases was the name of the game with UCR's Garewal stealing another base to set up the final run. With two hits, two runs, and one left on base, UCR finished it out with an 8-0 shut out. 

The Bison ended game two with four hits. 

Game three of this series is recognized as a forfeit due to an NCAA ruling on an incident involving Howard personnel and officials. This ruling is under appeal.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.