SALISBURY, Md. (April 22, 2023) – The Bison beat the Hawks but could not beat the rain as the Howard University softball team defeated Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), 9-7, before cutting game two short due to weather.
The win improves the Bison to 14-24 (6-9 MEAC) on the season, while the Hawks dropped to 12-23 (8-6 MEAC).
HOWARD 9, UMES 7
HU racked up nine runs on 12 hits, led by rookie
Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) going 4-of-5 with a pair of RBIs in the win.
The Bison took an early 3-0 lead in the first, highlighted by a two-run single to right field by junior
Sydni Jones (Whittier, Calif.).
Lead pitcher
Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) set the tone for game one, striking out the first batter swinging. HU continued to make light work of the Hawks with two consecutive outs to send the offense back to the dugout early.
HU continued to pull away in the third with another sac from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year
Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.), giving the Bison a healthy 4-0 advantage.
The Hawks joined the scoring in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI single to right field, 4-2.
The Bison posted two more runs in the fourth, extending its lead, 6-2.
The Hawks lit up the board with a four-run crusade in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game, 6-6.
After a scoreless inning in the 6th, the Bison found their stride again. Second-year Bison
Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.) set herself in scoring position when she stole second on a wild pitch. Dennis followed up, shooting one up the middle. Fletcher rounding the bases, nearly stayed at third, but was waved in when the Hawk behind the plate missed the pass, giving the sophomore time to slide home to a 7-6 lead.
With two outs on the board, sophomore
Victoria Brown (Carson, Calif.) lined one out to center field, bring Jones across the plate and giving the Bison an 8-6 lead in their final at-bat.
In hopes of keeping the Bison in position, UMES changed the Hawk on the mound with Weber up to bat. The first-year Bison hit an RBI-double right outside the glove of the diving UMES second baseman, closing out the inning, 9-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks found themselves with bases loaded. A sac-fly to left field closed the deficit, 9-7. Howard duo Fletcher and
Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) finished game one with a huge double play for the final outs when the ball was sent into Rick's territory. The quick-thinking California native threw the ball to Fletcher, who tossed it to first for the finish.
HOWARD 4, UMES 3 (POSTPONED)
Before the contest was paused due to weather, HU pounded out four runs on nine hits, headlined by sophomore
Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) 100
th career hit.
HU holds a slim 4-3 edge after three innings of play.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Bison will resume game two, starting in the fourth inning Sunday, April 23 at 11 a.m., followed by the series finale at 1 p.m.
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.