Ellicott City, MD - A five home run day from their power hitters lifted the Howard Community College Dragons over the Allegany College of Maryland Trojans Wednesday afternoon.

Howard trailed early in game one, but an eleven-run fourth inning gave them their sixth victory of the season. In game two, the Dragons never trailed and dominated to score back-to-back run-rule victories.

Game One: Dragons 17, Trojans 5
Game one of the doubleheader looked to be a back-and-forth battle early on. The Trojans struck first in the top of the first with an RBI single from Jaynie Simpkins, but Howard quickly jumped on Allegany's pitching. A sacrifice bunt from Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond) brought home Gianna Peluso (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) to tie the game, and Sophia Steele's (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) RBI single made it 2-1 Howard.

Allegany rallied in the second, scoring three runs on a Natalie Melby home run. In the top of the third, they extended their lead to 5-2 after Alyssa Medina made it home on a fielders choice. That would be the last time the Trojans would reach home plate, as Howard took over in the bottom of the inning. A bases-loaded walk allowed one run to score, before back-to-back singles from Katherine Wright (Dayton, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) and Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond) made it 6-5 Dragons.

The fourth inning was pure magic. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) homered to left field to kick off the inning, followed by the next three batters getting on base. Falby scored her second bases-loaded walk of the game to make it 8-5 Dragons, before Wright was hit by a pitch to bring another runner home. Gianna Peluso (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) then smacked a grand slam to make it 13-5 Dragons. Allegany changed pitchers, but the runs would not stop. A passed ball brought home Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond), and Sophia Steele's (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) first home run of the season ended the inning with a 17-5 Dragons lead. Webb then shut down the Trojans offense to end the game early.

Game Two: Dragons 10, Trojans 1
Howard wasted no time in jumping ahead in game two, as Madison Hamolia (Odenton, MD/Arundel) singled to right field to bring home Gianna Peluso (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) to start the contest. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) then smashed her first home run of the game to make it 3-0 Howard after one.

Allegany got one back in the third inning with an RBI single by pitcher Brean Gay, but Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) managed to shut down the side to end the inning. Webb then smashed a three-run home run to start the third, making it 6-1. After three more Dragons got aboard, Katherine Wright (Dayton, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error brought home Taylor Pence (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg). Howard now led 8-1 entering the final innings.

Behind an excellent day from Steele on the mound, the Dragons reached the fifth needing just one run to win via mercy rule. Jensyn Koonce (Chesapeake, VA/Greatbridge) was subbed into the game with two aboard, and smacked a walkoff single into right field to end the game 10-1 in Howard's favor.

The Dragons next face #5 Corning Community College in a huge showdown on Thursday, March 19 at 2:00 PM.