RUSTON, La. – The HBU softball team split two games in the Lady Techster Tournament Saturday morning. The Huskies routed Jackson State, 24-1, but fell to UT Martin, 4-2.
In the first game against Jackson State, HBU was leading the Lady Tigers, 11-0, before breaking it wide open with a 13-run fourth inning for a 24-1 run-ruled game.
The 24 runs were the most in a single game since HBU defeated UT-Permian Basin, 25-3, on March 30, 2001.
Shay Orsak had a huge game for the Huskies, as she went 4-for-4 with personal bests four RBI and four runs scored.
Lauren Schwirtlich and
Kirsten Schwirtlich each had three-hit games, and
Alyssa Burnett hit a home run in her HBU debut.
Emily Mueller earned her first-collegiate win in the circle, as she allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out six in a complete-game effort.
Chelsea Smith, Vicki Johnson, and Victoria Nelson each had a hit for JSU. Kelsey Townsend suffered the loss in the circle, as she allowed three hits, five earned runs, and two walks in just one-third of an inning. Sybil Lozano relieved Townsend and allowed 16 hits, 19 runs (four earned), and three walks, while striking out one in 4.1 innings.
HBU wasted little time getting a lead, as the Huskies had a five-run top of the first. After a lead-off single, Orsak hit an RBI double to right-center to get things rolling. With the bases loaded,
Kay Schroeder bunted safely to the left side, scoring Orsak. A hit by pitch and a balk sent home the third and fourth runs of the inning. Burnett grounded out to second, which brought home Schroeder for the fifth run.
HBU added six more runs in the top of the second. The inning was highlighted with a two-run double by
Melissa Herman and an RBI triple by
Daniella Rodarte.
Burnett hit a two-run homer to center field to start the scoring in the fourth inning.
Michaela Granchelli also homered, and the Huskies hit three doubles in the inning – two by Orsak – in the 13-run inning.
The only run for Jackson State came on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth, which allowed Johnson – who led off the inning with a single – to score from third.
In the second game against UT Martin, UT Martin scored three runs in the final two innings to subdue the Huskies, 4-2.
HBU was held to three hits, but made the most of it as the Huskies scored two runs. L. Schwirtlich, Orsak, and Herman each had a hit, while Herman had the lone RBI.
Shannon O'Connor suffered the loss in the circle, as she allowed nine hits, four runs – three earned – and two walks while striking out three in 6.2 innings.
Kendall Stiefel threw two pitchers and got her only batter out in one-third of an inning.
The 1-2 hitters of Kayla Wade and Taylor Manning combined to go 4-for-7 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a home run for UT Martin. Kenzi Tate went the distance in the circle, as she allowed three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out 10.
The Skyhawks drew first blood with a solo home run by Wade in the top of the third.
HBU answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Rodarte drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a single by L. Schwirtlich. K. Schwirtlich was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Herman reached on a fielder's choice and Rodarte slid home safely to tie the game at 1-1. The very next batter,
Victoria Granchelli, struck out swinging, but reached base safely on a wild pitch. L. Schwirtlich crossed home safely on the wild pitch to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.
UT Martin tied the game in the top of the sixth, as Renate Meckl singled to the pitcher, scoring Manning.
The Huskies threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as V. Granchelli led off the inning with a double to center. She was out on a fielder's choice, but M. Granchelli, who reached first on the FC, advanced to second, so the Huskies were still in business with a runner in scoring position and one out. UT Martin got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat heading to the seventh.
The Skyhawks took a 3-2 lead with one swing from Lauren Smith, who hit a lead-off homer to left. UT Martin got an insurance run as Manning doubled home Kelsey Dixon to give the Skyhawks a 4-2 lead.
L. Schwirtlich drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't cross home, as UT Martin got consecutive ground outs to end the game.
HBU (1-2) concludes the Lady Techster Tournament against host Louisiana Tech Sunday at 1:30 pm.
