Frederick, MD - In two of the greatest softball games played this season, the Howard Community College Dragons split their mid-week series with the Frederick Community College Cougars, winning game one 25-14 and losing game two 11-10.

The Dragons and Cougars combined for 60 total runs and 69 total hits across the doubleheader. Pitching was an afterthought, with a combined nine different pitchers being used throughout the afternoon. The split series moves the Dragons to 12-11 on the season and 4-4 in conference play, currently good enough for fourth overall in Region 20. WIth just one more win, the Dragons will tie the all-time program record for wins in a season.

Game One: Dragons 25, Cougars 14
Game one looked to be a blowout after the first, as Howard dropped ten runs on the Cougars in the top of the inning. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) got the party started by stealing home for the opening run, led by an RBI double from starting pitcher Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty). Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) added an RBI double of her own to bring home Steele and make it 3-0. Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) then smacked a deep home run to score herself and Ryan, making it 5-0. Three straight RBI singles from Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir), Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton), and Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) made it 8-0, and two more Dragons scored on a throwing error by Frederick to make it 10-0 after one.

Frederick quickly responded in the second, dropping three runs on an RBI triple and two RBI singles. Howard immediately went back to work in the top of the third, scoring four more runs to take a commanding 14-3 lead. Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) brought home a run on an RBI single, followed by a another single from Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) that scored two runs. Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) got in on the action with an RBI single to score Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) before the half-inning ended.

Up to this point in game one, the Dragons had seemed fully in control. But the bottom of third was a stark reminder that softball is unpredictable. The Cougars exploded for ten runs, turning a 14-3 blowout into a 14-13 barnburner. Despite pulling Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) for Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton), the Dragons couldn't seem to get any of Frederick's batters out, though Ryan finally corked the dam. The Dragons went to work in the fourth on resestablishing their lead. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) doubled to bring home Johnson and start the rally, followed by an RBI single from Steele. Perkes scored two runs on a double, and Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) got another run aboard with an RBI single. Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) was able to score the Dragon's 20th run of the game while the Cougars were occupied with getting Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) out at second base.

Now leading 20-13, the Dragons focused on shutting down Frederick's bats. Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) went to work, allowing just one run to score in the fourth. Early in the fifth, the Dragons pulled further away, as Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) scored on a wild pitch, Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) hit an RBI single, and Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) hit a bases-clearing double to make it 25-14. Ryan then shut down the side in the bottom of the fifth to give the Dragons an incredible run-rule victory.

The Dragons hit seven extra-base hits and stole four bases. Six Dragons were hit by pitches as Howard got on base every way possible. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) scored four runs, four hits, and an RBI. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) scored four runs, and had two hits. Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) recorded four hits, four runs, and five RBIs. Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) raked with three runs, three hits, and five RBIs. Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) added three hits and four RBIs, while Holly Ryan (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach), Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton), Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam), and Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) all recorded multiple hits and runs. Sablan had three RBIs and the games only home run. Pitching wise, Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) and Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) each recorded a strikeout.

Game Two: Cougars 11, Dragons 10
Game two would see the cougars take control early, as they recorded 20 hits against the Dragons four pitchers. Frederick would take the early 2-0 lead entering the third inning before the Dragons finally got on the board. Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) single-handedly scored two runs for the Dragons, hitting an RBI single and scoring on a Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) ground out. Frederick would retake the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third, prompting the first of three pitching changes for the Dragons. Howard fought back to tie the game in the fourth off an RBI single from Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) and a single from Howell that scored two runs.

Frederick slowly pulled away over the next three innings, continuing to rack up hits against Howard's pitchers. By the top of the seventh, the Dragons trailed 9-5 and needed a miracle. They would get one as a wild five-run inning gave the Dragons their first lead. Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) and Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) hit back-to-back RBI singles to get the rally going, followed by a sac-bunt from Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) that scored another run. Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) scored on a fielder's choice, and Madison Falby's (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) RBI single gave the Dragons the lead.

But Howard couldn't hold onto the lead, as their struggling pitching core got runners on base. A pair of wild pitches tied the game for Frederick, then allowed a walk-off score to give Frederick an 11-10 victory.

Unlike game on, the Dragons could only recorded three extra-base hits. Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) led the team with three RBIs and two hits. Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs, while Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) recorded two RBIs as well. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) led the team with three total hits. The Dragons used four different pitchers, with Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) recording two strikeouts.

Howard's next task will be a a tough home series against WVU Potomac State College on Wednesday, April 2 at 3:00 PM.