Box Score

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Houston Baptist's offensive continued to click, outscoring Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 5-0 through two innings before defeating the Islanders, 9-3, Sunday afternoon to take the first Southland Conference series 2-1.

Lauren Schwirtlich led HBU (7-6, 2-1 SLC) with three hits in five at-bats, recording two RBI and two runs scored. Melissa Herman went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Lori Earl (2-1) started in the circle and earned the win, allowing three hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out four in 3.2 innings. Kendall Stiefel pitched the final 3.1 and allowed one walk.

Corpus Christi (6-17, 1-2 SLC) was held to just three hits, as Hayley Galloway and Valerie Perez each went 1-for-4 and Dani Tefft went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

Candance Bradenburg (4-8) started and lasted 2.0 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk. Ashley Elicero pitched the final 5.0 and gave up seven hits, four runs (two earned) and one walk.

HBU wasted little time getting the lead as the Huskies had a two-run top of the first. Rebecca Rademacher hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a double by Kirsten Schwirtlich. Rademacher scored on a fielder's choice and K. Schwirtlich scored on a throwing error.

The Husky lead increased to 5-0 after a three-run second. After three straight one-out singles, Herman hit a two-run single. After Daniella Rodarte drew a walk to load the bases, K. Schwirtlich scored on a wild pitch.

Earl's no-hitter ended when Tefft hit a leadoff single to start the bottom of the third. A Husky error followed by a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Tefft later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-1.

The Islanders scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-3. Galloway hit an RBI single, followed by an RBI single by Perez. With two outs and the bases loaded, Stiefel relieved Earl in the circle and got a pop up to end the inning.

After a scoreless fifth, the Huskies scored three runs in the top of the sixth to give themselves some breathing room with an 8-3 lead. After a leadoff single by Shay Orsak, L. Schwirtlich brought her home with a triple to right-center. After a walk to K. Schwirtlich and a stolen base, L. Schwirtlich scored and K. Schwirtlich advanced to third on an Islander error. Herman then hit a sac fly to center, scoring K. Schwirtlich.

The Huskies added one final run in the top of the seventh for a 9-3 lead, as L. Schwirtlich had an RBI single that scored Lauren Powers. The Islanders went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

HBU will begin a season-high 10-game home stand beginning Monday, March 11 with a doubleheader against Bucknell. First pitch is set for a 1 pm start.