ORANGEBURG, S.C. (March 22, 2025) – Howard University softball team resumed conference play Saturday with a twinbill sweep at South Carolina State (SCSU). HU won game one, 4-1, followed by a come-from-behind victory in the nightcap, 9-8.
HOWARD 4, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 1 (GAME 1)
HU registered four runs on 12 hits, led by senior
Alyssa Vasquez (Eastvale, Calif.) going a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate.
Howard held an early 1-0 advantage after two frames until HU extended its margin in the third with a three-run inning, capped off by Vasquez's RBI-triple, 4-0.
SCSU was unable to get into a rhythm until its final at-bat, scoring its lone run off an RBI-single from Kylie Nelson, 4-1.
MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) had her best performance in a Bison uniform, tossing 6.1 innings with a career-high 12 Ks in the victory.
HOWARD 9, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 8 (GAME 2)
Howard recorded nine runs on 11 hits in the nightcap with freshman
Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas) and senior
Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) producing three hits apiece in the victory.
HU scored twice in the opening frame, but the Bulldogs responded with a run to pull within one after the first inning, 2-1.
Howard continued its dominance at the plate, tallying three runs in the second, 5-1, but SCSU answered again with a pair of homers to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.
After South Carolina State scored in the fourth and trimmed the margin back down to one after four frames, 5-4, SCSU manufactured four runs in the sixth, taking its first lead going into the seventh, 8-5.
Down, but not out, HU chopped away at the deficit with several clutch hits. Vasquez drove in fellow classmate
Sidney Fletcher (Whittier, Calif.) and cut the margin to two, 8-6. Next, second-year Bison
Merci Hart (Los Angeles) delivered a two-run single and tied the game, 8-8. Moments later, Ricks gave Howard the lead back with a go-ahead RBI-single, 9-8.
Holt held the Bulldog attack at bay in their final plate appearance, retiring the last three batters with a strikeout and two ground outs. The Arizona native won her second contest of the day.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Howard wraps up the season series with SCSU Sunday (March 23). First-pitch is set for noon.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.