WASHINGTON (March 30, 2024) – The Howard University softball team's charge through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) continued with Friday afternoon's 2-0 sweep over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).
 
HU opened with an 8-5 win before closing the day 10-2 to clinch the series. The sweep pushes the Bison to a 23-7 record overall and 7-1 in conference. The near-perfect record keeps the Bison atop the conference rankings moving through the weekend.
 
HOWARD 8, UMES 5
 
Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) started the day off strong, throwing 10 strikes while allowing only one hit in the first inning. Outfielder Angel Riggins (San Diego) highlighted the top half with a diving catch for the Hawk's second out. A shot straight to third baseman Justine Lambert (Camarillo, Calif.) would close it, 0-0.
 
A line out to the right center field by junior Alyssa Vasquez (Eastvale, Calif.) dropped just outside of the Hawk in right field. Vasquez put the Bison on the board, making her way around the bases while Kenna Higa (Honolulu) ran home, 1-0.
 
With Bison on both corners and two outs on the board, Vasquez made her way back in the dugout when she capitalized on a throwing error from the catcher, 2-0.
 
After holding the Hawks in place through the second, pristine bunting pushed the Bison around the diamond. A pitch through the catcher's legs posed the opportunity to cross the plate. Maryn Jordan (San Diego) seized the opportunity, inching away, 3-0. A sac bunt by Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) resulted in an RBI when Bianca Worthy (Goodyear, Ariz.) slid into home from third, 4-0. Finding her sweet spot, Vasquez hit out to right center once again, resulting in an RBI with Higa, 5-0.
 
A line out to left field produced the Hawks' first run of the day in the top of the third, 5-1. With two UMES players in scoring position and two outs on the board, Howard brought in junior pitcher Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) as relief to close the inning.
 
Worthy opened the bottom of the fourth with a hit out to right field, setting her up in scoring position at third. Lambert was right behind her, stealing second after her single to right. A sac fly from Higa to follow widened the gap, 6-1. With two outs against the Bison, a wild pitch gave way to Lambert crossing the plate for a 7-1 score.
 
Bases loaded – a sac fly to right field made it a 7-2 board. With the Hawks eyeing home plate, HU switched up the mound once again, this time bringing in Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.), who sent the final Hawk back to the dugout.
 
Lambert crossed the plate for the second time of the day when Ricks baited the Hawks while stealing second, 8-2.
 
An error in the top of the seventh put Hawks on both corners. A hit out to deep left field gave time for the runner on third to make it home, 8-3. The Hawks continued to fight back by loading the bases with only one out against them. A pop-up landed between two Bison in the circle, resulting in the Hawks posting two more runs before closing the game, 8-5.
 
HOWARD 10, UMES 2
 
With bases loaded, the Bison notched their first run of game two when the third baseman decided to throw the out at first while Higa crossed home, 1-0.
 
Jordan set the Bison up for success in the second inning with a strong hit down the left line. A wild pitch allowed junior Payton Quinonez (Tulare, Calif.) to run home, 2-0. Lambert followed up with a bunt for an RBI and a 3-0 board. Higa's hit out to the fence directly after positioning the Bison for another run, putting Lambert at third. Lambert made it home again when a fielding error put the Bison up 4-0. Howard posted one final run to close the inning, 5-0.
 
Senior Sydni Jones (Whittier, Calif.) highlighted the third inning with a hit to center field, dropping just right to notch two RBIs, 7-0. With no outs and Bison on corners of the diamond, a meeting on the mound was called. The pep talk produced two outs before the Bison posted another run, 8-0.
 
The Hawks answered back in the top of the fourth when a hit to the fence converted into an 8-2 score.
 
HU, starting to get more power behind its swings, sent another hit to the fence, resulting in an RBI, 9-2. Higa followed up with her second hit to the fence on the day, putting up a run and closing the game, 10-2, in five innings.
 
Junior Jordin King pitched her second complete game of the season, striking out five Hawks across five innings.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
The Bison return to Nationals Youth Academy Saturday, March 30 at Noon.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website www.HUBison.com.