Softball | 5/8/2025 11:22:46 PM

NORFOLK, Va., May 8, 2025 – Top-seeded Howard University secured its spot in the 2025 MEAC Softball Championship game with a commanding 17-5 victory over No. 3 Delaware State in the winner’s bracket final on Thursday evening.

The Bison await the winner of Friday’s elimination round, where No. 2 Norfolk State and No. 6 South Carolina State will square off at 10 a.m. The winner of that matchup will face Delaware State at 1 p.m., with the victor advancing to meet Howard in Saturday’s title game at 12 p.m., live on ESPN+.

Howard wasted no time establishing control, scoring twice in the opening frame. Alyssa Vasquez crossed home on a single by Sidney Fletcher, followed by a run from Merci Hart off an Angel Riggins RBI single.

Both teams added two runs in the third inning. For Howard, Fletcher doubled in Wisdom Colbert and later scored on a fielder’s choice. Delaware State answered with a two-RBI double from Emma Crowe, cutting the lead to 4-2.

The Hornets tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning on a clutch two-RBI triple by Karly Cain, scoring Destiny Mitchell and Neelie Reed.

But from that point forward, it was all Bison.

Howard erupted for 13 runs over the final three innings, beginning with a four-run fifth highlighted by runs from Riggins, Maryn Jordan, Kenna Higa, and Payton Quinonez.

In the sixth, Ballenger and Jordan came around to score on back-to-back extra-base hits from Jordan and Lealani Ricks.

The Bison capped their offensive showcase with a seven-run seventh inning, punctuated by a two-RBI triple from MEAC Rookie of the Year Lauryn Jones.

Delaware State added one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Howard’s offensive onslaught.

Fans can follow championship updates and results through the MEAC Softball Championship Central page.