WASHINGTON (April 18, 2023) – Howard University softball (13-24) returned to The District for a midweek doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against Saint Peter's (21-13). The Bison dropped game one, 3-2, before bouncing back in game two with a 5-4 advantage, splitting the day 1-1 with the Peacocks.
 
HOWARD 5, SAINT PETER'S 4
 
HU registered five runs on nine hits, led by Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) going 2-of-3 with three RBIs in the victory.
 
In the opening frame, Dennis kicked off the scoring with a two-run double to right field – giving Howard an early 2-0 lead.
 
With two outs against them in the second, the Peacocks' Sydney Wilson tied the game with a two-run homer to dead center, 2-2. 
 
The balance was short lived as team MVP Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) singled to third base while junior Sydni Jones (Whittier, Calif.) rounded second to give the Bison a 3-2 edge.
 
Errors aided Saint Peter's (SPU) in gaining a 4-3 lead in the fourth, but a strong Bison offense bounced back in the bottom of the inning.
 
After two hits, an error and Bison on all bases, SPU made a pitching change in hopes of slowing down the crusade. First-year Bison Maryn Jordan (San Diego) followed up with a shot to shortstop, giving fellow classmate Kelsie Jarrett (Nashville, Tenn.) the chance to run home on a fielder's choice, 4-4.
 
Second-year Bison Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) made her way around the diamond in the fifth for a 5-4 advantage before holding the Peacocks off in the final two innings.
 
Weber entered in relief to pickup her fourth win of the season, tossing 4.2 innings with five strikeouts.
 
HOWARD 2, SAINT PETER'S 3
 
Jarrett and rookie Kelyse Stewart (Lee's Summitt, Mo.) led the Bison attack in game one, each going 2-of-3 in the loss.
 
Breezing through nine batters in three innings, the Bison were making quick work of the Peacocks in game one with sophomore lefty Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) getting the starting nod.
 
HU lit the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Jarrett hit a two-run single to right field before being tagged out at second, 2-0.
 
SPU's Jess Forte tripled to right field and made her way home on a sac fly to close the gap, 2-1.
 
With bases loaded, the Peacocks gained the lead two bats later with a two-RBI double to right center, 3-2.
 
The Bison struggled to get past second base in the final inning, dropping game one.
 
Saint Peter's Christina Colon earned her first win of the season while newcomer Sydney Palmer secured her fourth save on the year.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
The Bison finish out the final road series of the regular season with a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore Saturday (April 22) at 1 p.m., followed by a seven-inning contest Sunday (April 23) at noon.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.


Derek W. Bryant, Howard Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information, contributed to this story.