RIVERSIDE, Ca. - The Bison continue to fight for a win in the West after dropping both games in Sunday's doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Baptist.  

HOWARD 1, UC SANTA BARBARA 6 

Newcomer Maryn Jordan (San Diego, Calif.) opened the matchup with a hit to left field to reach first. Jordan's at-bat made out to be the only movement on the board that inning as the Gauchos' three consecutive grounded balls closed out the inning. 

The second inning picked up the action when the Bison saw the first scoring opportunity for both teams. Sending a power shot to right field, sophomore Alyssa Watson (Eastvale, Calif.) tripled with eyes set on home. Two Bison followed up grounding out at third to leave Watson, and the opportunity to score, on base. The bottom of the second followed up with more suspense. The Gauchos' Hannah Demore singled to right field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Demore worked her way to third when a teammate grounded out to second base. With clear sight of the plate and a Gaucho behind on first, the hope to score was cut short with a ground out to third base. 

After three hitless innings, the Bison opened the scoring in the top of the sixth. Jordan was first yet again to get on base, thanks to a fielding error at short. With only one out on the board, she seized the opportunity to advance to second on a wild pitch before the Gauchos walked a pair of Bison. A wild pitch with bases loaded tuned into an exciting 1-0 lead for the Bison. 

The Gauchos came out blazing in the bottom of the sixth. The Bison, a little shaky from excitement, started the half with a walk before the same Gaucho advanced to third on a throwing error the next bat up. Behind her, another Gaucho stole second. Anticipation at a high, a hit up the middle, brought in two Gauchos for a 2-1 lead and a batter on second. Advancing to third on a passed ball, another line up the middle proved fruitful, allowing the Gaucho to run home. 

The Gauchos found their momentum. Scoring back-to-back runs with one out on the board for a 5-1 advantage, UCSB picked up their final run when a hit was out of reach of the third baseman. Two outs closed the only scoring inning of the game as the Bison blanked the top of the seventh.  

HOWARD 3, CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 5 

For the second game of the day, the Bison picked up the excitement of being first on the board. Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) started the inning with a bunt to third. Ricks advanced the second on the first out for Howard. Sophomore Jade Greene's (Upper Marlboro, MD) single to second base lined up Ricks for home. With the first score in sight and one out on the board, Maryn Jordan reached on a fielder's choice while Greene got out at second. Choosing Greene cost the Lancers as Ricks brought it home before she could be tagged gaining a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third. Seizing the opportunity in the commotion, Jordan made her way to second on a throwing error by the catcher. 

The Lancers joined the scoreboard in the fourth when a sac fly to right field gave time for an unearned run. Cal Baptist took the lead the following inning off a throwing error by the shortstop.  

Down 2-1 and two outs on the board, Kelsie Jarrett (Nashville, Tenn.) helped equalize the score when a single to second base brought in Alyssa Watson. After forcing an eighth inning, the Bison gained a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning. 

The Lancer worked in another run before a homer to center field gave Santa Barbara a 5-3 walk-off win. 

UP NEXT 

The Bison close out their California trip Tuesday at 6 PM ET when they face No. 2 UCLA. 

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