BALTIMORE (April 21, 2024) – Howard University softball came up short in Sunday's series finale against Morgan State (MSU), 2-1, in Baltimore.
 
With the setback, HU dropped to 29-11 (13-5 MEAC) on the season.
 
For the third straight game, runs were at a premium as both squads' pitching staffs made the contest a low-scoring affair. Despite a combined 12 hits between the two teams, only three total runs crossed home plate. Junior Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.) and MSU's Vic Fletcher earned the starting nods for their respective clubs.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Morgan State (28-15, 16-2 MEAC) got the board first with a two-run double from Ky'Anah Lake and gave the Lady Bears a 2-0 advantage after two.
 
From that point, both team's pitching staffs locked in and tossed four scoreless frames going into the seventh.
 
Top seven, rookie Merci Hart (Los Angeles) delivered a one-out double to right center and put the tying run at the plate. Next up, second-year Bison Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.) drove in Hart with a double to center and pulled HU to within one, 2-1.
 
After a pitching change at the circle, sophomore Kelsie Jarrett (Nashville, Tenn.) moved the tying run to third with a groundout to second, but MSU's Emil Raubuch halted the Bison's rally with a game-ending flyout to right.
 
Offensively, HU was held to four hits. Hart, Weber, junior Kenna Higa (Honolulu) and newcomer Cheyenne Castille (Eastvale, Calif.) each recorded a hit.
 
In the circle, sophomore Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) came in relief, throwing four innings with a game-high four strikeouts in the no decision.
 
Fletcher got the win for MSU, going 4.1 innings with three Ks while Raubuch picked up a two-out save.
 
On April 27-28, Howard closes out the regular season with Norfolk State in D.C. Saturday's (April 27) doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m., followed by a seven-inning contest Sunday (April 28) at noon.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.