WASHINGTON (April 26, 2024) - Howard Softball hosts the Norfolk State (NSU) Spartans in its regular season finale in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at Nationals Baseball Youth Academy.
 
Saturday's (April 27) doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., followed by a seven-inning contest Sunday (April 28) at noon.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can track all the action with live stats while Sunday's showdown will be televised on ESPN+.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES HISTORY

Since 2006, NSU leads the series, 27-16.
 
Last season, Howard and Norfolk State played four times with both programs splitting (2-2), but the Bison defeated NSU in the MEAC Tournament.
 
HOWARD
 
The Lady Bison currently sit in third place (29-11, 13-5 MEAC), but a chance to move up the standings.
 
The squad is doing well this season due to a collective effort.
 
Outfielder Maryn Jordan (San Diego) is batting .475, which is second in the country, with 19 RBIs. The San Diego native is also ranked 14^th in the nation with a .535 OBP.
 
Other notable sluggers include outfielder Bianca Worthy (Goodyear, Ariz.) batting .398 with 18 RBIs on the season, catcher/utility player Merci Hart (Los Angeles) hitting .330 with 24 RBIs, shortstop Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.) producing a .283 BA with 22 RBIs and three home runs and first/third baseman Kenna Higa (Honolulu) registering a .355 BA on the season with 22 RBIs and one home run, junior catcher Alyssa Vasquez (Eastvale, Calif.) batting .320 with 30 RBIs, infielder Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) hitting .308 and freshman utility player Angel Riggins (San Diego) recording a .311 BA with 19 RBIs on this season.
 
On the mound, the Lady Bison have been excellent, only allowing a 3.08 ERA in 40 games played.
 
The rotation of Amelia Weber (Montclair, Calif.), Mia Gonzales (Atwater, Calif.), Jordin King (Pomona, Calif.) and Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) have been dominant in the circle. Weber has an 11-4 record with a team-leading 68 strikeouts in 23 appearances (18 starts). Gonzalez has a 7-2 record with a 3.28 ERA in 21 appearances (13 starts). King has a 5-5 record with a 3.47 ERA in 14 appearances (eight starts). Holt holds a 6-0 record with an impressive 0.88 ERA, which sits third in the country.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
On the season, Norfolk State has a 4-39 record (3-15 MEAC).
 
The star player on the Spartans is junior catcher/outfielder Rylie Gilbreath, batting .354 with 18 RBIs and six home runs.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On April 19-20, HU dropped all three contests at Morgan State (MSU).
 
Saturday (April 19), the Bison dropped a pair of tough matchups. HU came up short in game one, 3-2, followed by a 2-0 setback in the nightcap.
 
The following day (April 20), Howard came up short in Sunday's series finale against MSU, 2-1, in Baltimore.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On May 8-11, HU goes to Norfolk, Va., for the MEAC Tournament, held on the campus of NSU.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.