COVINGTON, Ga. (February 14, 2025) – Howard University softball team earned another split at the HBCU Collegiate Invitational Saturday. HU fell in game one to Southern (SU), 13-5 (f/6), but rebounded with a come-from-behind victory over Alcorn State (ASU), 10-8.
HOWARD 10, ALCORN STATE 8
Howard mustered 10 runs with only four hits, led by sophomore utility player
Angel Riggins (San Diego) going 2-of-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the win.
HU jumped out to an early lead after one, 2-0, but ASU trimmed the margin to one after three innings, 2-1.
Alcorn State took its first lead of the game with a four-run inning in the fourth, 5-2. ASU added two more scores in the fifth, but the Bison refused to go away.
Bottom five, the Bison manufactured three runs and cut the deficit to two after five frames, 7-5.
Alcorn State extended its lead with a sac fly in the sixth, 8-5, but HU's bats came alive in the bottom half. After senior infielder
Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) scored on an unearned run, 8-6, grad transfer
Ameenah Ballenger (Lansdown, Pa.) drove in two runs to tie the game, 8-8. Moments later, junior catcher
Zafirah Doss (Hayward, Calif.) delivered a two-run double to right field and propelled the Bison to victory, 10-8.
Ballenger secured her third win of the season, going 2.0 innings with three strikeouts in relief. MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Pitcher of the Year junior
Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) got the starting nod, tossing 3.2 inning with six Ks in a no decision.
HOWARD 5, SOUTHERN 13 (f/6)
In the opener, HU registered five runs on five hits with grad utility player
Bri Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) going deep in the fourth.
Howard got on the board first, thanks to a two-run double from senior utility player
Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.), 2-0.
Southern answered in the second, taking its first lead of the matchup with a five-run inning, 5-2.
Next inning, SU scored twice off Bison miscues and extended the margin, 8-2.
Top four, Martinez delivered a three-run blast over the left field fence and cut the deficit to three after four innings, 8-5.
Bottom six, Southern capitalized on more Bison errors and closed out the contest with another five-run inning, 13-5.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Howard wraps up the weekend Sunday (Feb. 16) versus Prairie View A&M. First-pitch is scheduled for noon in Covington, Ga.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
