WASHINGTON (April 2, 2023) – Howard University softball split Sunday afternoon's doubleheader against Morgan State University (MSU), winning game one, 7-5, before narrowly dropping game two, 5-4.
The split improves Howard to 10-18 (3-4 MEAC) while the Lady Bears sit at 17-13 (7-1 MEAC). The rubber match is to be determined at a later date.
HOWARD 7, MORGAN STATE 5
Offensively, HU registered seven runs on 11 hits with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year graduate
Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) going 2-of-4 with three RBIs and a run scored in the win.
Rookie pitcher
Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) earned the game one nod for HU, but the Lady Bears managed to produce three first-inning runs to take a quick 3-0 lead.
Eager to close the gap, second-year Bison
Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) sent a bomb deep to right field for a one-out triple. Next up, Dennis singled to short and drove in Vasquez, closing the margin to two runs after one, 3-1.
In the second, sophomore lefty
Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) came in relief for Weber where she set the tone, striking out the first batter she faced.
After a scoreless second inning, MSU's Madison Nunez cleared the bases with an out-of-the-park homerun to extend the lead, 5-1.
HU responded in the bottom half, exploding for six runs, capped off by a two-run single from Dennis. After three, the Bison took a 7-5 advantage.
From that point, Gonzales kept the Lady Bears at bay with four scoreless innings while picking up the win in relief.
With the victory, HU gave Morgan State its first conference loss of the season.
HOWARD 5, MORGAN STATE 4
In the nightcap, Howard mustered four runs on nine hits with newcomer
Maryn Jordan (San Diego) going 3-of-4 in game two.
Melissa Paz got Morgan State on the board first, drilling a two-run double to left field, 2-0.
In the bottom half, with only one out, second-year Bison
Victoria Brown (Carson, Calif.) hit a two-run double to right field and tied the contest after one inning of play, 2-2.
Both clubs were scoreless in the second and third, but Weber delivered a clutch RBI-single to left field and gave the Bison their first lead of the game after four, 3-2.
Top six, Morgan State's Anaya Hunte tied the game with a two-out, RBI-triple to right center. Next at-bat, she made it home off an error and MSU picked up one more run to regain the upper hand, 5-3.
Down, 5-3, and their final chance to get the advantage at hand, the Bison came out with back-to-back bunt singles by Jordan and sophomore
Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.).
With runners on the corners, Bison head coach
Tori Tyson signaled the double steal and closed the gap, 5-4. The crowd and dugout erupted.
With the momentum at a high, MSU decided to walk Dennis, putting the game-winning run at first. Next up, Brown followed up with a bunt to the pitcher that resulted in the third out.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
On April 7-8, the Bison are back in action as they host North Carolina Central in a three-game series at Nationals Youth Academy. Friday's (April 7) doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., followed by a seven-inning contest at noon Saturday (April 8).
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.
