Ellicott City, MD - Kasey Smith (Jessup, MD/Hammond) brought her A game to pitch a gem in game two of the doubleheader to help the Dragons split with the Salem Mighty Oaks.

Game one saw the Dragons fall behind 4-0 before Sage Huber (West Friendship, MD/Glenelg) followed up a Madeline Lackey (Manchester, MD/Manchester Valley) double with an RBI single up the middle to get Howard on the scoreboard. Salem continued to add to the lead with the only answer Howard could muster was a Katelyn Burdette (Frederick, MD/Walkersville) no doubt home run to deep left field. Samantha Hobert (Elkridge, MD/Howard) pitched a solid game with three strikeouts and only four earned runs in the complete game.

The night cap saw the Dragons fall behind 1-0 after the top of the first, but answered right back in the bottom half with a three run rally thanks to timely hitting and defensive miscues from the Mighty Oaks. Huber singled to start the inning with Burdette reaching base on an error. Smith stroked a single to left field and was replaced on the bases by Madison Dzubak (Highland, MD/River Hill). Ashleigh Gerber (Marriottsville, MD/Marriotts Ridge) hit a shot to shortstop that was misplayed which allowed Dzubak and Berdette to score to give Howard the lead. 

Burdette continued to stay hot as she doubled in Alyssa Kelly (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) on a shot over the left fielders' head and would go on to score on a Hobert RBI double to the right center gap. From there Smith just took over on the mound, as she was able to retire the last eight Salem hitters in a row while also receiving some great defense behind her. With the Dragons ahead 5-1 in the 5th inning, Smith was able to get a two-out single to start things up as Gerber crushed a home run to deep center field. Hobert singled followed by a couple of walks to load the bases. Huber then smashed a hit to center field to score Sarah Phelps (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) and Hobert on the walk-off two RBI single thanks to the mercy rule.

The Dragons will next take the field on Sunday, March 26 at 12 PM when they host Corning Community College.