Howard Sweeps Morgan State

Washington, DC-April 21-Dale McNeal and Christina McCoy combined for a three-hit shutout in the first game and Brianne Gutirrez and McNeal accounted for five runs in the second game as Howard University defeated Morgan State, 2-0, 8-4 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's softball doubleheader at Banneker Stadium.  Under the MEAC point system, neither game counted against the conference standings but they do in the overall record.

            McNeal (16-8) started the first game and pitched five innings, allowing only one hit, no walks and striking out eight before giving way to McCoy, who sealed the win with two scoreless innings.

            The Bison (28-15) scored an unearned in the bottom of the first and added an insurance run on a solo blast by third baseman Kristina Cordova in the bottom of the fourth.  That was all McNeal and McCoy needed as they allowed only two Morgan State runners to get to second base.

            In the second game, Howard jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of two Bears errors.  But before you could say "an easy sweep" Morgan State made it interesting, scoring three runs in the top of the second on only two hits and a costly Bison error.

            "When we play Bison softball, we are as good as anyone," said Howard Coach Tonja Braxton.  "That means good defense, being fundamentally sound and everyone being focused on their job.  When we don't play that way, we can lose to anyone."

            McCoy (11-7) went four innings and was touched for five hits and three runs before giving way to McNeal in the fourth.  A junior from Los Angeles, CA, McNeal shut down the Bears (8-19), allowing three hits and one run the rest of the way.  McNeal aided her own cause by driving in two runs.

            "That is why she is our ace," said Braxton.  "I felt that at that time (the change of pitchers) the climate was better for Dale to come in.  She made some tough pitches and got us out of some tight jams.  But we expect that from her."

            Gutirrez drove in three runs on a two-run single in the first and a run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth.

            Howard has now set a new school record for wins and is primed for a 30-plus win season.

            "That's what makes this team so special," said Braxton.  "Today, some of out key performers did not produce, but others did.  Like I said: "When we play Bison softball, we are tough to beat.'"

            The Bison play at Delaware State on Sunday at 1 pm.

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Asst. AD for Academic Advising/Head Softball Coach
Tonja M. Braxton