Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

HOUSTON – Houston Baptist regrouped from a 9-7 extra-inning game one loss by using three home runs en route to a 6-1 win in game two to split the doubleheader from visiting Bucknell Monday afternoon from Husky Field.

Kirsten Schwirtlich led HBU (8-7) by going 3-for-5 at the plate, with six RBI and four runs scored. She hit a home run in each game. Mariah Midyette led Bucknell (4-9) going 3-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Each team scored a run in the first inning. Bucknell jumped to a 4-1 lead following a three-run third. Midyette hit a two-run homer and Cydnee Sanders hit an RBI single.

The Huskies tied it at four with a three-run home run by K. Schwirtlich in the bottom of the fifth.

The Bison went back up by three in the top of the sixth, as wild pitches and errors hurt the Huskies. Two errors and three unearned runs gave Bucknell a 7-4 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.

With no runs in the sixth, the Huskies needed at least three in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game going. The Bison helped the Huskies by converting three errors in the inning, as HBU tied the game at 7-all with a three-run seventh. Shay Orsak helped on the game-tying run, as the shortstop bobbled the ground ball and Orsak dove to first to beat the throw, resulting in Lauren Powers crossing home to tie the game 7-7.

The Bison scored twice in the top of the eighth, as Colie Escobar had an RBI triple and Mary Horton grounded out to second, but it was a slow enough roller to allow Escobar to score.

The Huskies got a single to start the bottom of the eighth, and later a one-out walk, but couldn't score any runs as Bucknell took game one, 9-7.

Sarah Shotton (2-2), who relieved starter Kendall Stiefel and reliever Lori Earl, suffered the loss. She allowed one hit, two runs (one earned) and four walks while striking out two in 3.0 innings. Starter Amanda Fazio (3-4) earned the win in the circle for the Bison, allowing seven hits, five runs (four earned), and one walk while striking out two in 5.0 innings. Dana Nielsen earned her first save after pitching a near-perfect seventh, allowing one walk while striking out two.

In game two, HBU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, as Melissa Herman hit a two-run shot in the first and Daniella Rodarte hit an RBI double.

After spotting Bucknell a run in the top of the fourth, the Huskies answered with a leadoff homer by Michaela Granchelli to make it 4-1.

The Huskies scored two final runs in the bottom of the fifth. Victoria Granchelli hit a one-out single and was brought home by a two-run shot by K. Schwirtlich, her second homer of the day.

The Bison went down in order the final two innings, as HBU took game two.

Keely Shuler (3-2) went the distance in the circle for the Huskies, allowing six hits, one earned run, and one walk, while striking out one. Nielson (1-4) suffered the loss, giving up five hits, six runs (five earned), and one walk while striking out two.

HBU will host its first-ever Southland Conference series, when Southeastern Louisiana comes to town on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 pm and Sunday's single game begins at 2 pm.

Note: Head Coach Mary-Ellen Hall earned her 699th career win Monday.