Courtesy of Howard Athletics
ORLANDO, Fla. — Howard University softball started the season off with a bang as they traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Black and Gold Classic. The Bison opened with one of the biggest wins in program history besting two-time Big East champion University of Connecticut (UCONN) 8-7. The Bison split the day 1-1 with a 10-2 loss to host school University of Central Florida (UCF) in five innings.
Howard University 8, UCONN 7
The Bison started off strong with junior Sidney Fletcher(Whittier, Calif.) singling to left field. Working to find her rhythm, the Husky on the mound walked newcomer Bianca Worthy (Goodyear, Ariz.). Fletcher took advantage of a throwing error charging into scoring position while UCONN found their bearings. With Bison on every corner grad pitcher Meghan O’Neil (Forest, Va.) managed to hold off the stampede with a strikeout. Rookie Merci Hart’s (Los Angeles, Calif.) first collegiate at bat proved fruitful with 2RBI as she singled to right field. Sophomore Maryn Jordan (San Diego, Calif.) capped the scoring in the top of the first when her hit to right field brought Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) home, 3-0.
Junior Lexi Hastings (Lynchburg, Va.) put the Huskies on the board when she ran in on a wild pitch, 3-1.
The second frame went scoreless as both teams struggled to get a hit. Vasquez and freshman Justine Lambert (Camarillo, Calif.) highlighted the bottom of the second when Lambert caught second-year Savannah Ring (Wyckoff, NJ.) stealing at second.
With two outs on the board, Hart marked her third career hit but was left on base to close the top in the third. The Huskies closed the gap in the bottom of the inning. Hastings posted another point utilizing a throwing error to her advantage. UCONN followed up with a hit directly after. Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) got her second out of the inning when she caught a popup stopping the Husky in scoring position and closing the frame, 3-2.
With two outs on the board Ricks singled to shortstop before Flecher hit a double down the edge of left field hoisting Ricks in scoring position. Worthy notched her first two RBIs as a Bison when she hit out to center field putting the Bison up 5-2.
HU held off the Huskies as they managed one hit in the fourth before striking out swinging and grounding out to second and first base.
Newcomer Kenna Higa opened the fifth with her first hit as a Bison. Pinch running for the NSU transfer, Richmond native Iyanna Fortenberry (Richmond, Va.) made it across home plate to pull away 6-4.
UCONN answered back with Hastings third run of the evening followed by Rosie Garcia (San Fernando, Calif.) stealing home to close the gap 6-4.
Needing to inch away, Ricks hit out to left field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Worth back at bat, the newcomer singled out to right center giving Ricks time to run home. It was Worthy’s time to cross the plate as she seized a fielding error to lift the score 8-4.
The Howard University defense locked in knocking down the first at-bat with a ground out to short. Freshman pitcher Jordin King (Pamona, Calif.) marked her first strike out swinging notching the second out on the board. A hit to left field inched the Huskies closer to evening the score when Grace Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) recorded two RBIs. UCONN managed another notch but fell short 8-7 as Bria Finley caught the final out.
Howard University finished with 11 hits to UCONN’s seven. Newcomer Hart led the way hitting. 750 off four appearances. Junior pitcher Gonzales earned her first win of the season pitching 4.2 innings. Sophomore Julia Holt got the save coming in to pitch 1.1 innings.