Courtesy of Howard Athletic Communications
Howard University softball team finished the weekend on a high note, knocking off North Carolina A&T State (NCAT) in the night cap, 12-8. HU dropped the morning contest to Robert Morris (RMU), 8-0 in five innings.
GAME TWO (Howard 12, NCAT 8)
HU pounded out 12 hits, led by junior Luz Aguilasocho (Grand Terrace, Calif.) going a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate with an RBI-single.
Newcomer Alyssa Vasquez (Downey, Calif.) got Howard on the board with an RBI-single up-the-middle, 1-0, but NCAT responded with four runs in the bottom first and took a commanding 4-1 lead after one.
Next inning, the Bison answered with four runs of their own and reclaimed the upper hand, 5-4, and added five more in the third, highlighted by a two-run RBI triple from sophomore Ari Whatley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 10-4.
Bottom four, North Carolina A&T State cut the margin to three after tallying three runs, 10-7.
Top six, Aguilasocho and freshman Payton Quinonez (Tulare, Calif.) each delivered an RBI-single to put the game out-of-reach, 12-8.
Quinonez and Vasquez each had two hits while fellow classmate Alyssa Watson(Eastvale, Calif.) tied a team-leading three RBIs in the victory.
Senior pitcher Sydney Hixenbaugh(Millstone, N.J.) picked up the win in a reserve role, striking out four Aggies.
GAME ONE (Robert Morris 8, Howard 0 [5])
Freshman Lealani Ricks (Madera, Calif.) was the lone Bison to record a hit against RMU.
Robert Morris scored six runs in the first two innings, followed by a run in the fourth and fifth innings.
RMU’s Rachel Rhinehart tossed a one-hitter in five innings of work while striking out three Bison.
