DURHAM, N.C. – Howard University softball saw its historic 2026 campaign come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling to Marshall, 4-2, in an elimination game at the NCAA Durham Regional inside Smith Family Stadium.
The Bison finished the season 28-19 overall while making their second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and second straight postseason trip to Durham.
Howard struck first in the second inning after junior infielder
Cheyenne Castille (Eastvale, Calif.) singled and later scored on a Marshall throwing error off the bat of freshman outfielder
Amirah Lenon (Chandler, Ariz.), giving the Bison a 1-0 lead.
The Bison added another run in the third inning after freshman infielder
Aniyah Whipper (Elk Grove, Calif.) opened the frame with a single. Graduate student
Taylor Ames-Alexander (Lancaster, S.C.) followed with a base hit before junior infielder
Cheyenne Castille drew an RBI walk to extend the advantage to 2-0.
Marshall answered in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer before taking the lead in the fourth on another two-run shot.
Ames-Alexander paced Howard offensively with a two-hit performance, including a double in the fifth inning. MEAC Player of the Year
Maryn Jordan (San Diego, Calif.) also recorded a hit for the Bison along with Castille, and freshman
Aniyah Whipper (Elk Grove, GA).
Senior pitcher
Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) earned the start in the circle while MEAC Pitcher of the Year
Aiko Conaway (Haymarket, Va.) delivered 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three. Senior
Destiny Calloway (Evington, Va.) also appeared in relief during the sixth inning, striking out the Bison at bat.
Howard threatened in the fifth after Ames-Alexander doubled into right field and freshman
Ariyah Allen (Converse, Texas) advanced to third, but Marshall escaped the inning to maintain its lead.
The appearance marked another milestone season for Howard under head coach
Tori Tyson, as the Bison secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and continued establishing themselves among the nation's rising mid-major programs.
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website
www.hubison.com.
