Washington, D.C. - Howard Community College's softball team opened their home slate of games Thursday at their temporary home in the nations capital with a pair of thrilling games against Cecil College.

The Dragons and Seahawks battled fiercely in game one, with Cecil getting the edge 4-3 in a pitchers duel. Game two was a back and forth shootout, with Howard pulling away late to win 9-5. The split series gives the Dragons a 1-5 record to start the season.

Due to field conditions at Kiwanis Wallace Park, the Dragons will open the 2026 season with four games at a temporary home: the softball complex at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Game One: Seahawks 4, Dragons 3
Game one was a true pitcher's duel between Howard's Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) and Cecil's Taylor Stapleford. Both pitchers pitched complete games, with Webb striking out seven batters and Stapleford striking out twelve. As a result, the first five innings saw just one run scored by both teams. After Gianna Peluso (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) tripled to left field, Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond) hit a pop fly down the left field line. The ball initially looked like it would carry foul, but ended up landing just within the line, allowing Peluso to score on the play.

Howard led 1-0 deep into the sixth inning, where Cecil finally scored off back-to-back home runs from Keira Wolfe and Gabriella Smith. Howard was ready to respond in an odd way, as they retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth without a single RBI. Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) and Taylor Pence (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) both got on base, then both score when a pair of passed balls opened up home plate.

The Dragons 3-2 lead would not last, as Cecil had finally figured out Howard's pitching. The Seahawks loaded the bases, then brought two runs home when Smith singled deep into center field to kick off the seventh inning. Howard got two more on in the bottom of the inning, but Webb struck out to end the game with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss.

Game Two: Dragons 9, Seahawks 5
Unlike game one's slow start, game two was high-octane from the first pitch. Both teams traded runs in the first inning, with Taja Souza scoring on an error for Cecil and Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond) scoring on Madison Hamolia's (Odenton, MD/Arundel) fielders choice in the bottom of the inning. Both pitchers locked down the sides over the next inning and a half, before Howard opened the floodgates. A throwing error by Cecil's second baseman Riley deRoulac brought home both Gianna Peluso (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) and Katherine Wright (Dayton, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) to give Howard a 3-1 lead.

Gabriella Smith's second home run of the day tied the game for Cecil in the top of the fourth, and Taja Souza's RBI single gave the Seahawks a 4-3 lead. But the bottom of the inning would see Howard put the game away. Katherine Wright (Dayton, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) hit an RBI single to bring home Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty), then scored herself on a fielders choice. Peluso smacked an RBI double to extend the lead to 6-4. Cecil snuck one run back with a Smith sac-fly, but the bottom of the fifth saw even more runs from Howard as Madison Falby (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) hit an RBI single.

In the sixth inning, Howard put the game away for good thanks to Layla Walker (Laurel, MD/Hammond). Walker's RBI single brought Peluso home, and the freshman then scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the game. Steele shut down the Seahawks over the last two innings to close out the 9-5 win for Howard.

The Dragons next face Monroe-Bronx on Sunday, March 8 at 12 and 2 PM for their next home doubleheader. Both games will be hosted by Catholic University.