Catonsville, MD - The Howard Community College Dragons softball team picked up one of the biggest wins in program history on Wednesday night, sweeping the rival CCBC Catonsville Cardinals in a crucial conference matchup.

Needing a pair of wins to keep in contention for a first-round home playoff game, the Dragons pulled off a clutch win in game one, then came back from an 11-7 deficit to win a wild game two in extra innings. The sweep gives the Dragons 20 wins on the season, tying their program record set last year and setting a new record for regular season wins.

Game One: Dragons 5, Cardinals 3
Game one was a pitchers duel between Catonsville's Emily Fagan and Marissa Webb of the Dragons. Both pitchers combined for six strikeouts and nine scoreless half innings.

The Dragons would escape a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the first, then struck first when Gianna Peluso doubled to left field to score Kaylee Brogan and Madison Falby. The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the third, as Maggie Rowland smacked an RBI single and Gianna Guglielminetti hit an RBI double.

Webb broke the tie in the fifth with a massive home run to make it 3-2 Dragons. Then, in the top of the sixth, with the bases loaded, Layla Walker hit a deep single to center field to score two runs. Catonsville responded with an RBI double from Aliceanna Weibley in the bottom of the inning, and had a chance to walk the game off in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded. Weibley hit a line drive down the left field line that would've tied the game, had Madison Hamolia not plucked the ball out of midair just inches off the ground the secure Howard's victory.

Peluso and Walker each recorded two RBIs, while Madison Falby went 2-3 from the plate with two runs scored.

Game Two: Dragons 18, Cardinals 14
Game two was one of the wildest games in HCC's program history, with 36 total hits and 32 total runs. The Dragons would strike first when an error by Guglielminetti allowed two runners to score in the first. Catonsville responded in kind, scoring in the bottom of the inning off an error by starting pitcher Sophia Steele. Peluso made the first major move of the game in the top of the second, launching a deep fly ball that just cleared the fence to score two runs.

After a Jordan Cleveland RBI single made it 4-2, the Dragons began to unload on the Cardinals in the third inning. Hamolia smacked a sarifice fly to score a run, and Brogan hit a huge single to right field that scored two runs. Now leading 7-2, the Dragons looked to be in a comfortable spot, but Catonsville came roaring back. The Cardinals scored nine unaswered runs over the next three innings to take an 11-7 lead into the sixth.

After a pair of pitching changes, Marissa Webb returned to the mound for the Dragons. Webb shut down the Cardinals over the final two innings, while the Dragons bats came alive once again. Layla Walker started the comeback with an RBI single in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Sophia Steele smacked an RBI single to make it 11-9. Hamolia then singled to center field to make it a one-run game, and a Madison Falby groud-out tied the contest as Steele managed to sneak home. Webb shut down the Cardinals in the bottom of the inning to force extras.

The eighth inning saw the Dragons quickly load the bases, scoring Victoria Webb in the process. A Taylor Pence single allowed Walker to score, and Steele scored two more runs with a deep single to center field. Brogan's bat stayed hot with a two-RBI double, and Falby hit another sacrifice ground-out to score the eleventh unaswered run for the Dragons. Now leading 18-11, Howard survived a Weibley RBI double and a towering two-run home run from Alana Watts in the bottom of the inning. Brogan then threw out the final batter to complete the comeback.

Peluso led the Dragons with three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Pence had three runs and three hits, while Brogan and Steele each brought home three RBIs. Steele, Webb, and Jensyn Koonce all saw time pitching, combining for four strikeouts.

Up Next: Howard has one last series to go before the playoffs, as they face Hagerstown Community College on Friday, April 24 at 2:00 PM. A sweep of the Hawks should ensure a first-round home playoff game, a first for the Dragons' program.