Box Score
HOUSTON – Houston Baptist led Central Arkansas, 5-2, through two innings, but the visiting Sugar Bears scored nine unanswered runs to defeat the Huskies, 11-5, Wednesday afternoon from Husky Field. HBU took the series two games to one.
HBU (11-10, 5-4 SLC) was led by
Victoria Granchelli with two RBI. She,
Kirsten Schwirtlich,
Daniella Rodarte, and
Mac Christensen each had a two-hit game.
Lauren Schwirtlich went 1-for-4 to increase her hitting streak to 10 games. She has reached base safely in 10 straight games and K. Schwirtlich has reached base safely in 16 straight.
Sarah Shotton (2-4) started in the circle and took the loss, allowing seven hits and seven runs (five earned) while striking out two in 3.1 innings.
Lori Earl allowed one hit, four runs (zero earned), and two walks while whiffing two in 1.2 innings.
Keely Shuler pitched the final 2.1 innings and gave up two hits.
Melissa Bryant led Central Arkansas (21-11, 5-4 SLC) with three RBI and three runs scored. She went 2-for-3 at the plate, as did Stephanie Lasley.
Kelsie Armstrong (14-7) earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing nine hits, five earned runs, and one walk while striking out four.
UCA plated two runners in the top of the first, due to a wild pitch with a runner on third and an error.
The Huskies answered by scoring four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-2 lead, all coming with two outs. V. Granchelli hit a two-run double, then Rodarte tripled to score two more runs.
HBU added a single run in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead on an RBI double by K. Schwirtlich. The Huskies were in business for more, with runners at second and third and only one out, but the Sugar Bears got a pop up and a strikeout to end the threat.
Stranding those runners proved to be key, as UCA came right back in the top of the third and tied the game at five-all with a three-run home run by Tiffany Roby.
The Sugar Bears scored two runs in the fourth and put a four-spot in the top of the fifth for the win.
HBU concludes its season-high 10-game home stand by hosting UH-Victoria in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 26 beginning at 1 pm.
