El PASO, Texas – HBU lost twice on the opening day of the UTEP Invitational, falling to New Mexico State, 8-3, then to the host Miners, 5-3, Friday from Helen of Troy Field.
In the first game against the Aggies, NMSU opened up a 4-0 lead after two innings with a three-run first and another run in the top of the second. The Huskies got their first run of the game in the bottom of the third. After
Lauren Schwirtlich hit a lead-off single up the middle, she advanced to second on a sac bunt, advanced to third on a single by
Kirsten Schwirtlich, then scored a sac bunt by
Melissa Herman.
Each team scored twice in the fourth inning. The Aggies had two RBI singles to increase their lead to 6-1. The Huskies answered with a two-run blast by
Kay Schroeder to make the score 6-3.
NMSU got the two runs right back in the top of the fifth, as Malena Padilla and Alyssa Ruiz hit back-to-back homers to lead off the inning to give the Aggies an 8-3 lead. HBU went down in order the final three innings to end the game.
L. Schwirtlich, Orsak, and Schroeder each had two-hit games for the Huskies. Schroeder (2) and Herman (1) had RBI.
Shannon O'Connor (0-3) started in the circle and took the loss, allowing seven hits, six runs (three earned), and one walk with one strikeout in 3.1 innings.
Kendall Stiefel gave up three hits, two runs, and two walks with two strikeouts in one inning.
Emily Mueller pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed one hit and three walks while whiffing three.
Haley Nakamura went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for NMSU. Kristi Covarrubia had a two-hit game, while Kelsey Dodd had two RBI.
Makayla McAdams earned the win in the circle, as she gave up nine hits and three runs with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Celisha Walker pitched the final 3.0 innings and struck out one.
UTEP drew first blood with one run in the top of the third, but HBU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, as
Shay Orsak scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Cecilia Bauer, and K. Schwirtlich scored on a ground out.
UTEP answered with a three-run top of the fifth to retake the lead, 4-2, as a Huskies' error resulted in two of the three runs being unearned. The Miners added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Tahla Wade.
HBU was held to just four hits, as L. Schwirtlich, K. Schwirtlich,
Alyssa Burnett, and
Holly Webb each had one hit. Bauer and Burnett had one RBI apiece.
Mueller (3-2) started in the circle and took the loss, as she allowed 10 hits, four runs (two earned), and two walks with one strikeout in 5.0 innings. Stiefel pitched the final 2.0 innings and allowed five hits and one run while whiffing three.
UTEP had 15 hits, led by Erika Arcuri who went 3-for-4. Wade went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Danielle Pearson went the distance in the circle and gave up four hits, two runs, and one walk with three strikeouts.
HBU (4-8) concludes the invitational Saturday against New Mexico State at 12 pm central, then UTEP at 4 pm central.
