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HOUSTON – Alyssa Burnett's solo home run to center field in the top of the eighth completed HBU's comeback in the second game of a doubleheader at the University of Houston, as the Huskies won, 6-5, in eight innings. UH won game one, 2-1.

Shay Orsak and Burnett each had two hits for the Huskies in game one, while Kirsten Schwirtlich had the lone RBI. Emily Mueller (7-9) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed four hits, two runs, and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Kendall Stiefel pitched the final 3.1 innings and gave up one hit and one walk.

Selena Hernandez went 2-for-3 for the Cougars, as Kendra Cullum and Tiffani McKnight had an RBI apiece. Diedre Outon (14-6) earned the win as she allowed three hits and struck out five in 4.1 innings. Julana Shrum and Summer Groholski combined for four hits, one run and one walk in the final 2.2 innings.

UH took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the bottom of the first and third innings on an RBI double by McKnight and a home run to left by Cullum, respectively.

HBU scored its first runs in the series between the two teams in the top of the seventh, when K. Schwirtlich hit an infield single off Groholski that scored Lauren Schwirtlich. The Huskies threatened to tie the game, with the bases loaded and two outs, but the Cougars brought in D. Outon in place of Groholski and got a fly out to end the game.

In game two, Burnett went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while L. Schwirtlich, Orsak, Herman, and Rodarte each had two hits. M. Granchelli had three RBI. Stiefel (5-9) earned the win in relief, as she allowed two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Shannon O'Connor took a no-decision as she pitched 5.2 innings and gave up seven hits, five runs (two earned), and one walk with three strikeouts.

Jordan Rains led UH with three hits. D. Outon took the loss in the circle, as she allowed four hits, three runs, and one walk with one strikeout in 2.1 relief innings. Shrum pitched the first 5.2 innings and gave up nine hits, three runs (two earned), and one walk with one strikeout.

HBU had a chance to take a lead in the top of the third, as L. Schwirtlich reached base safely on a bunt, then tried to score on a double in the gap by Orsak, but was out 8-6-2 on the play for the second out. The Huskies still had a runner in scoring position, but the Cougars got a ground out to end the threat.

The bottom half of the inning saw UH score twice with two outs, as the Huskies very nearly had an inning-ending double play. There was only one out on the play, though. The very next batter, McKnight  reached base safely on an error, which scored Katie St. Pierre for the first run of the game. Haley Outon then ripped an RBI single down the left-field line for the Cougars' second run. Both runs were unearned.

Michaela Granchelli tied the game with her third home run of the season with a two-run blast to left-center field in the top of the sixth. L. Schwirtlich's RBI single brought home Rodarte from third to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead. UH tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single by D. Outon. The very next batter, Jaime Edwards, gave the Cougars the lead with a two-run single.

The Huskies threatened with bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the seventh. M. Granchelli grounded out to bring home Burnett to make the score 5-4. Rodarte's RBI single to left field allowed Herman to cross home and knot the game at 5-all. The Cougars got a sacrifice bunt out and a ground out to end the Huskies' threat.

UH had a golden opportunity to win in walk-off fashion, with bases loaded and one out, but the Huskies got a force out at home and Stiefel snared a line drive to end the inning and send the game into extras.

Burnett's two-out solo homer to center field gave the Huskies a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded full of Cougars in the bottom of the eighth, Stiefel struck out Alexis Dunn for the final out.

HBU (17-24) plays a three-game conference series at Abilene Christian this Saturday and Sunday. The Huskies conclude the regular season hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a three-game set Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4.