Myrtle Beach, SC – The softball program enjoyed a historic day, playing in the first official games of program history while also picking up their first win.
 
The Dragons started the day off against Castleton University in what was an instant classic. Howard got the bats going quickly as Samantha Hobert (Elkridge, MD/Howard) flared a single to right field, scoring Katelyn Burdette (Frederick, MD/Walkersville) and Grace Tolle (Woodstock, MD/Marriotts Ridge) to give Howard the early lead.
 
After giving up runs in the 1^st and 3^rd innings to tie it up, the Dragons got hot again in the top of the 5^th as Tolle roped a single to left field to score Sage Huber (West Friendship, MD/Glenelg) followed by a Burdette double down the left field line to score Tolle. Burdette would later score on a wild pitch to put the Dragons ahead 5-2.
 
Unfortunately for the Dragons, Castleton came back with a vengeance, scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the come from behind victory.
 
Hobert racked up seven strikeouts on the day as a fine start to the season for the Howard ace.
 
In game two of the day, the Dragons took on Northern Vermont University and had a ball as they secured the program's first win.
 
Taking advantage of patience at the plate, the Dragons earned 19 free passes on their way a 10-2 mercy rule win in five innings.
 
The top five in the Howard lineup combined to score the 10 runs with Tolle reaching base four times; twice on walks and twice on being hit by a pitch. Burdette scored three times and had a big RBI triple as one of just three hits for the Dragons. Huber, Burdette, Hailey Adams, and Erika Goodwin (Laurel, MD/Hammond) all tallied two RBI each in the game.
 
Goodwin pitched a gem, going five innings and giving up just one earned run with four strikeouts to get her first victory.
 
The Dragons will get a day to rest before getting back at it in South Carolina on Sunday, February 27 when they take on Danville Area CC for a doubleheader starting at 10 AM.