NORFOLK, Va. (May 11, 2023) – No. 4 Howard University softball team live to fight another day after eliminating rival No. 2 Norfolk State (NSU) with a 5-1 victory at NSU Softball Field.
 
With the win, HU knocked out Norfolk State for the second straight year.
 
Offensively, the Bison tallied five runs on seven hits with graduate Kalita Dennis (Elk Grove, Calif.) and sophomore Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) collecting two hits each in the victory.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Howard got on the board with a pair of runs in the second, 2-0.
 
Bottom second, NSU sliced the deficit in half and trailed only one after two innings of play, 2-1.
 
Vasquez delivered an RBI-single to right field next inning, bringing home rookie Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) and extending the margin, 3-1.
 
Top five, Weber scored on an unearned run and gave the Bison a 4-1 advantage into the sixth inning.
 
In the Bison's final at-bat, Weber drove in sophomore Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.) on a sac fly to dead center to close out HU's scoring attack.
 
Weber got the starting nod in today's elimination game, tossing four solid innings, while second-year Bison Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) picked up a three-inning save with two strikeouts.
 
NSU (24-23) mustered six hits in the loss.
 
Howard faces No. 6 Maryland Eastern Shore in another elimination game Friday (May 12) at noon.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.