Game 1
Game 2

NORFOLK, Va. — The Howard University softball team routed Norfolk State 8-7 and 13-2 in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field. Howard improved to 8-17 on the season with the two wins, while NSU fell to 11-11.

In game 1, the Lady Bison roughed up Spartan pitcher Alyssa Velazquez (Aurora, Colo.) for three hits and five runs in the top of the first inning.

NSU scored two runs in the bottom of the frame and tied things up in the third on a two-run triple by Meghan Ramsey (Virginia Beach, Va.) and an RBI single by Candice Vasquez (Montclair, Calif.).

The Spartans took a 7-5 lead after the sixth inning, but the Lady Bison tagged Velazquez for three more runs in the seventh inning. The Spartan defense committed four errors in the game, two in the first inning, that helped Howard get runs on the board.

Christina McCoy picked up the win after giving up two hits and two runs, one earned, in 4.2 innings in relief. She struck out seven batters and walked two. Velazquez fell to 9-3 on the season after pitching an 11-hit complete game where she allowed eight runs (three earned) and walked three.

The errors kept coming in the second game, with NSU recording a season-high five miscues. Howard held a 4-0 lead after the third inning, but exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach for the Spartans.

Howard starter Carly Martin had a two-hit shutout going until the bottom of the sixth when the Spartans got two runs thanks in part to two Lady Bison errors. She gave up three hits and two unearned runs and struck out five in six innings for the win.

Casey Pomeroy (Fallon, Nev.) gave up three hits, eight runs and walked seven in 5.1 innings for the loss.

Ramsey led NSU offensively, going 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs on the day. Vasquez was 1-for-3 with three RBI in game 1.

NSU travels to Lynchburg, Va. for a doubleheader against Liberty on Thursday. Game 1 starts at 2 p.m.