Box Score

HOUSTON – Houston Baptist scored all three of its runs in the top of the third and survived Texas Southern's comeback, as the Huskies defeated the host Lady Tigers, 3-2, Tuesday afternoon from Memorial Park.

Melissa Herman led HBU (5-3) with two RBI, while Rebecca Rademacher had a team-high two hits. Kirsten Schwirtlich had the other RBI for the Huskies.

Keely Shuler went the distance in the circle, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and one walk while striking out two.

Six different Lady Tigers had a hit for Texas Southern (9-5). Jessica Haynes and Giana Robinson each had an RBI.

Rebecca Villareal suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five hits, three runs (two earned), and one walk while striking out three.

HBU threatened to score in the top of the first, with K. Schwirtlich on first base after a fielder's choice. Herman came up to the plate with two outs and almost cleared the bases, as Haynes caught the ball at the wall in right field to end the game.

The Lady Tigers also had their opportunity to score first in the bottom of the frame. With runners at first and second and just one out, Daniella Rodarte scooped up a grounder, tagged the runner heading to third and threw to first to complete the double play and the inning.

HBU was in business in the top of the third, as Kate Maddock and Lauren Schwirtlich reached base with only one out. Rademacher popped up to near second base and the Lady Tigers couldn't catch it, allowing all three base runners to reach safely, loading it up for K. Schwirtlich. Schwirtlich was hit by the pitch, allowing Maddock to score the first run of the game. Herman singled up the middle, scoring two more runs to make the score 3-0. The Huskies couldn't add onto the lead, as the Lady Tigers got a ground out and a foul popup to end the inning.

A lead-off walk followed by a Husky throwing error, put Lady Tigers on second and third with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. The Huskies looked like they would get out of the inning unscathed, as they got a popup, then a leaping catch in left-center field. The runner at third tagged late, but slid under the tag at home. The Huskies then threw to third and got the runner out to end the inning, with only one run allowed, as HBU led TSU after four, 3-1.

There were back-to-back 1-2-3 innings for both teams, until a one-out double by Maddock in the top of the seventh gave the Huskies their fifth hit of the afternoon. TSU got out of the inning unscathed with two fly outs.

TSU got to within a run following a blast to left field by Haynes to lead off the inning. Fitima Alvizo followed that with a single, then an error put the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on base. But the Huskies got out of the jam with a flyout and a groundout to end the game.

HBU hosts UTSA in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 6 beginning at 2 pm.