By AFRO Staff
|
Howard couldn’t find their swing in the MEAC championship tournament and was eliminated after a facing North Carolina A&T in the loser’s bracket. (Courtesy Photo/HU Sports Information) |
(May 12, 2009) - The top seeded Howard Lady Bison softball team took out No. 4 seed North Carolina A&T, 3-1, in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference championship tournament last week, but that’s where Howard’s postseason luck ended.
After losing to No. 2 seed Bethune Cookman, 4-1, in the second round, the Lady Bison (21-28) ended a nine-game winning streak, and was matched up against the Lady Aggies again in the loser’s bracket.
Yet this time around, North Carolina A&T got the best of the Lady Bison, eliminating them from championship contention with a 2-0 win.
The game was tight with neither team giving up a run in the first seven innings. Howard’s ace pitcher Carly Martin only gave up four hits on the day, but the game would be loss on an untimely error.
The Lady Aggies picked up their first run as Howard overthrew to second base in attempt to throw out Lillian Bullock, allowing N.C. A&T’s Brittney Reddick to steal home.
North Carolina A&T didn’t make it out of the next round, losing to the championship runner-up Hampton Lady Pirates. Hampton was then swept in the championship finals by Florida A&M (4-0 in game one and 9-1in game two) last Saturday at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
The Lady Rattlers claimed their third MEAC title in the last decade, and ninth championship overall.
Despite the unexpected early postseason exit, Howard’s Rebecca Kirscher and Carly Martin both earned All-MEAC Tournament honors. FAMU’s Amanda Reyes was named the MEAC’s Most Outstanding Player.