Box Score | Championship Central 

NORFOLK, Va., May 13, 2022 – Payton Quinonez had the game-winning hit that gave No. 2 Howard an 8-7 win over No. 3 Norfolk State (NSU) to advance to Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship game.
 
Howard (29-22) takes on reigning MEAC champion Morgan State at 9 a.m. The game will be streamed live on the MEAC Digital Network on YouTube.
 
The Bison jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but NSU responded in the top of the second with four runs to take the lead.
 
The Spartans added a run in the top of the fourth when Tuli Iosefa scored on an error to go up 5-3.
 
Howard picked up runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie things up at 5-all.
 
In the top of the sixth, Lily Potter doubled down the left line to bring home Yrral Davis and Iosefa, giving the Spartans a 7-5 lead.
 
That lead was short-lived, however, as Camille Navarro hit a two-RBI single in the bottom of the frame to tie the game again, this time at 7-7.
 
With two outs to start the bottom of the seventh, A. Watson struck out swinging, but reach first on a passed ball, advancing Xzarria Simmons to third base. Quinonez followed with the big hit, a single to center field, to bring Simmons home and win the game for the Bison.
 
Sydney Hixenbaugh picked up the win after pitching 5.1 innings in relief. She allowed five hits and three runs. Quinonez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run for Howard.
 
Reliever Alexis Robinson fell to 17-5 on the season after pitching one inning and allowing three hits and one unearned run. Gabby Vaughan was 2-for-4, while Iosefa had a hit and scored twice.
 
For more information on the 2022 MEAC Softball Championships, please visit the Championship Central page.
 
 
 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically Black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.