HAMPTON, Va. – Howard University softball jumped back to the winner's circle after sweeping Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader over Hampton University. The Bison opened with a 4-3 win before dominating the Pirates 6-2 for the sweep.
 
HOWARD 4, HAMPTON 3
 
Pitching five innings, sophomore Julia Holt (Tucson, AZ) picked up her second win of the season allowing only three hits through 20 batters faced.
 
The Bison capitalized on nine hits in their 4-3 win over the Pirates.
 
Hampton opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with an unearned run. The Pirates remained in scoring position with 0 outs on the board, but a strikeout swinging, and two quick outs left three on base for a 1-0 lead.
 
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Bison joined the board in the third. With two outs against HU, standout Bianca Worthy (Goodyear, AZ) hit a double to left field. The following play, transfer Kenna Higa (Honolulu, Hawai'i) recorded her second hit of the day giving worthy time to run it home from second, 1-1.
 
The third frame proved fruitful for both teams as Hampton picked up another run in the bottom, 2-1.
 
A quick fourth inning saw changed come in the 5^th where Higa earned another RBI to tie the board 2-2.
 
A hit to left center gave the Pirates a slight edge once again for a 3-2 score in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Angel Riggins (San Diego, Calif.) double to right center leveled the board once again in the sixth bring Justine Lambert (Camarillo, Calif.) across the plate, 3-3. The Bison made quick work of the Institute in three-up-three-down fashion to close the inning.
 
The Bison gained the upper hand in the seventh when MEAC Player of the Week Maryn Jordan (San Diego, Calif.) hit a double to center field bringing in fellow sophomore Makaela DiGaudio (Corona, CA), 4-3.
 
That proved to be the final nail in the coffin as the Bison held the Pirates at bay in the bottom of the seventh for the win.


HOWARD 6, HAMPTON 2
 
The Bison kept the momentum rolling into game two jumping out to a hefty 3-0 lead in the first. With two outs on the board and bases loaded, rookie standout Merci Hart hot a double to left center bringing in Higa, Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.), and Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.). 
 
The Bison remained strong in the field and on the mound sending three Pirates back in the dugout as quickly as they came out to close the frame with a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Bison marked another run in the second when Jorda's hit to left center gave Lambert time to cross the plate for the second time in the day, 4-0.
 
Newcomer Cheyenne Castille (Eastvale, Calif.) marked her second hit of the day and first career RBI in the third to pull the Bison away 5-0 and forcing Hampton to change the Pirates in the field.
 
Hampton managed a run in the fourth inning before Howard tacked on one more in the fifth, 6-1.
 
The Bison held off the Pirates for two more innings before the Tidewater opponent snuck in one more off a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth, 6-2.
 
The final frame would prove futile for each teams with three consecutive out on each sides of the diamond.
 
The Bison are back on the field Friday, March 8th when they kick off the Indiana Invitational at 11 AM with matchups against Dayton & IUPUI.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.