NORFOLK, Va. (May 9, 2026) – Reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champion and top-seeded Howard University softball captured its second consecutive MEAC Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon, defeating South Carolina State, 11-2 (f/5), at TowneBank Field.
With the victory, the Bison (28-17) secured the MEAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and completed an unbeaten run through the conference tournament in Norfolk.
Howard wasted little time applying pressure offensively in the championship rematch.
Reigning MEAC Player of the Year
Maryn Jordan (San Diego) opened the bottom of the first with a walk before advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Sophomore
Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas) also reached before graduate student
Taylor Ames-Alexander (Lancaster, S.C.) loaded the bases with a walk of her own. Junior
Makyia Taylor (Temecula, Calif.) then brought home the game's first run on a fielder's choice, giving Howard an early 1-0 advantage.
Sophomore pitcher
Aiko Conaway (Haymarket, Va.) settled in quickly inside the circle, retiring the Bulldogs in order during the opening inning before working around a second-inning single to keep South Carolina State off the scoreboard.
Howard added to its lead in the second after freshman
Aniyah Whipper (Elk Grove, Calif.) reached base to begin the inning. Jordan followed with an RBI single to left before Jones delivered an RBI single of her own, stretching the advantage, 3-0.
South Carolina State answered with a run in the third inning, but the Bison, immediately, responded again in the bottom half.
After junior
Cheyenne Castille (Eastvale, Calif.) reached and freshman
Helen Broomfield (DeSoto, Texas) advanced into scoring position, junior
Tori Trotter (Lacey, Wash.) lined an RBI-single to left field to extend Howard's lead, 4-1.
The reigning champions capitalized on the fourth inning with a seven-run explosion.
Jordan sparked the inning with a single before Jones and Ames-Alexander reached to load the bases. Taylor ripped a two-run single to right field, 6-1, before Castille added a sacrifice fly and junior
Angel Riggins (San Diego) brought home another run on a sacrifice bunt. Howard continued to capitalize on aggressive baserunning and Bulldog miscues as freshman
Amirah Lenon (Chandler, Ariz.) scored on a wild pitch before Jordan capped the inning with a two-run double to left, pushing the Bison lead, 11-1.
South Carolina State added a solo home run in the fifth inning, but Conaway closed out the championship victory as Howard secured its second straight tournament crown.
Jordan led Howard, offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored, a double and a walk. Taylor added three RBIs while Jones recorded an RBI and reached base three times. Trotter also contributed an RBI-single while Whipper scored twice.
Inside the circle, Conaway tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two to improve to 13-9 on the season.
Jordan was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Taylor and fellow senior
Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) earned MEAC All-Tournament Team honors.
Howard now awaits its NCAA Tournament destination. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, at 7 p.m., on ESPN2 with NCAA Regionals set for May 15-17.
For more information on Howard University softball, visit the official Howard Athletics website at
www.hubison.com.
