Ellicott City, MD - Facing their first ranked opponent of the season, the Howard Community College Dragons forced a doubleheader split with Corning Community College on Wednesday.

The Dragons dominated game one, winning via run rule 13-3, but fell in game two in a wild 12-11 slug fest. The series was marred by heavy winds that played havoc all day, which included causing 11 hit-by-pitches.

Game One: Dragons 13, Red Barons 3
The Dragons sent Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) to the mound for game one, and got arguably her best performance of the season. Steele struck out six batters and allowed just three runs in the top of the fourth. The freshman pitcher got the party started for the Dragons in the bottom of the first with a blooper to right field that scored two runs. In the bottom of the second, the Dragons quickly made it a 7-0 game off a Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) RBI double, and a grand slam home run from Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales). A bases-loaded walk and a Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) sac-fly in the bottom of the third made it 9-0 after two for the surging Dragons.

After Corning scored thrice in the top of the fourth, the Dragons re-established their lead with another explosion of runs. Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) got the party started with an RBI single up the middle, and after a Corning defensive lapse, Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) stole home. Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) got in on the fun with an RBI single through the left side, and Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) answered with a single through the right to made it 13-3. Steele then shut down the side to close out the run-rule win.

Game Two: Red Barons 12, Dragons 11
Game two would prove to be one of the wildest games of the year for the Dragons, as Corning came out hot with a home run in the first. Howard was able to immediately respond in the bottom of the inning, scoring off a Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) sac-fly and a Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) RBI double. Corning quickly retook the lead in the top of the second, scoring off a double to left-center field.

After a Howard pitching change that shored up the defense, the Dragons surged back ahead. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) brought home Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) with an RBI single, and Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) scored her second RBI of the day with a double to left-center field. Micah Howell's (Columbia, MD/Atholton) RBI double in the third made it 5-3 Dragons, but once again Corning responded. The Red Barons scored five unanswered runs in the top of the fourth to take a commanding 8-5 lead.

Sophia Steele's (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) RBI single in the fourth got Howard within two runs, but the real fun wouldn't start until the sixth inning. The Dragons bats came alive, scoring five runs to take an 11-8 lead. Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) scored on a fielder's choice to kickstart the rally, followed by a Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) RBI double. Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) kept her hot streak alive with an RBI single to bring home Perkes, and Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) launched a triple to center field to extend the newly acquired lead. The Dragons completed the comeback with a Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) RBI double to wrap up the inning.

But Corning wouldn't go down without a fight, and after scoring on a passed ball, the Red Barons stole the lead back with a three-run home run. The Dragons managed to get the final out after another pitching change, this time sending Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) to the line, but Howard couldn't dig themselves out of the hole, with Madison Falny grounding out to end the game.

The Dragons next face Jefferson Community College on Thursday, March 20 at 1:30 PM!