CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (February 22, 2025) – Howard University softball team opened the Mary Nutter Classic with a pair of losses against top-tier opponents. HU fell to No. 11 Duke, 13-1 (f/5) and San Jose State (SJSU), 10-1 (f/5).
 
HOWARD 1, NO. 11 DUKE 13 (F/5)
 
Despite only three hits, HU jumped out to the early lead with an RBI-ground out from senior utility player Sidney Fletcher (Whitter, Calif.), 1-0, driving home rookie infielder Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas).
 
Duke took the lead in its first at-bat and never looked back, scoring eight first-inning runs, 8-1.
 
Duke kept the pressure on, tallying three more runs in the second, 11-1, before closing out with a pair of scores in the fourth, 13-1.
 
Jones, senior outfielder Payton Quinonez (Tulare, Calif.) and sophomore Merci Hart (Los Angeles) each registered a hit in the loss.
 
HOWARD 1, SAN JOSE STATE 10 (F/5)
 
In the nightcap, HU grabbed the upper hand early with an RBI-single from Hart, 1-0.
 
Graduate transfer Ameenah Ballenger (Lansdown, Pa.) got the starting nod, tossing two scoreless innings to open the game.
 
SJSU broke through in the third with five runs, capped off by a three-run triple, and took a 5-1 advantage after three.
 
Next inning, San Jose State added five more scores to down the Bison, 10-1.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Saturday (Feb. 22), Bison head coach Tori Tyson faces her alum mater, No. 15 Nebraska, in the Mary Nutter Classic. First-pitch is set for 11 p.m. (ET) / 8 p.m. (PT).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.