WASHINGTON (April 20, 2023) - The Howard Softball team faces the Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Hawks in Princess Anne, Maryland this weekend (April 22-23) in their second-to-last conference series of the season. The opening pitch is set to be thrown at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22.
 
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MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
The Lady Bison lead the Hawks, 26-13, dating back to 2005. In their reverse fixture on Feb. 24, Howard fell to UMES, 9-5, in Charlottesville, Va., at the Cavalier Classic.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard 13-24 (5-9 MEAC) have been stuck in the middle this season, holding fifth place in the conference so far this year. If they were to sweep the Hawks this weekend, they would vault themselves into fourth place in the MEAC with a chance at catching Norfolk State for third.
 
Graduate Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) has put together a solid season, batting .309 with 19 RBIs. Dennis has never been caught stealing this year, swiping four bags in four attempts.
 
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
 
UMES 12-22 (8-5 MEAC) is directly ahead of Howard in the conference standings in fourth place. The Hawks are coming off a midweek series loss against Mount St. Mary's (Maryland).
 
Junior Kelsie Ekstrom (Riverside, Calif.) has helped lead the Hawks to their winning conference record, leading the team in batting average (.361), OPS (.901), slugging (.485) and OBP (.422).
 
Maryland Eastern Shore as a team have the most stolen bases in the conference this season (70) and the only team to have legged out double-digit triples (11).
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Tuesday, April 18, Howard split their doubleheader against Saint Peter's. They lost the first game, 3-2, and won the second game, 5-4.
 
Junior Sydni Jones (Whittier, Calif.) helped propel HU to a 5-4 victory over the Peacocks. The outfielder went 3-of-3 and scored a run in the effort, her eighth run scored this season.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
In their final nonconference game of the season, the Lady Bison will face crosstown rival George Washington Wednesday, April 26. The game will start at 2 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.