HAMMOND, La. – HBU rallied from a 4-0 early hole and battled back with a big, five-run fifth inning to defeat Stephen F. Austin, 8-7, Thursday morning at North Oak Park. With the win, the Huskies advanced to face top-seed McNeese State later in the day.

Lauren Schwirtlich, Kirsten Schwirtlich, and Alyssa Burnett each had two hits for HBU (22-26), as Burnett had two RBI, including the go-ahead RBI. Shay Orsak, Melissa Herman, and Cecilia Bauer each had one RBI. Kendall Stiefel (6-10) earned the win in a relief effort, as she allowed eight hits, five runs (three earned), and five walks with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

Four different players had two hits for SFA (24-26), as Alisa Hamilton and Katelyn Standley both had two RBIs. Carlie Thomas (16-14) suffered the loss in the circle, as she allowed 10 hits, eight runs (five earned), and two walks, with three strikeouts.

It was a short outing for HBU starter Emily Mueller, who didn't register an out in the fist inning while allowing two runs and throwing three illegal pitches. Stiefel relieved Mueller and got out of the inning without any more damage. L. Schwirtlich made a beautiful running grab in the gap for the second out, and Melissa Herman registered an unassisted put out at first to end the inning with SFA leading 2-0.

The Ladyjacks extended their lead to 4-0  with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, on a Huskies' error and an RBI single by Standley.

The Huskies scored three times in the top of the third to cut the deficit to one, 4-3. With runners at first and second and Orsak at the plate, two Ladyjack errors resulted in two runs scoring and Orsak standing at third. Two batters later, Burnett hit an RBI single that scored Orsak. SFA threatened again in the bottom half of the inning with a runner at third and only one out, but Stiefel got back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.

For the second-straight inning, the Huskies got out of a jam in the fourth with a runner at third and one out. A ball bounced off Stiefel's glove right to Daniella Rodarte, who threw home and got the runner out on a fielder's choice for the second out. Stiefel then struck out Brittany Lewis to get out of the inning unscathed.

HBU then scored five times in the top of the fifth to take an 8-4 lead. L. Schwirtlich led things off with a triple to right-center. Orsak's RBI single brought home Schwirtlich to tie the game at 4-all. Burnett's single up the middle brought home Orsak from second to give the Huskies their first lead of the game, 5-4. Herman's sac fly brought home K. Schwirtlich from third to give HBU a two-run lead, 6-4. Burnett scored as the Ladyjacks tried to get Victoria Granchelli out at second on an attempted steal for a 7-4 lead. The Huskies ended the scoring on an RBI single by Cecilia Bauer that brought home V. Granchelli.

The Ladyjacks got a run back as Elizabeth Arana, who led off the inning with a walk, scored on an RBI single by Hailey Hollingsworth. The Ladyjacks threatened for their second run of the inning, as Hamilton singled through left-center, but L. Schwirtlich got Lindsey Campbell out at home. Cadie Weaver popped up to third base in foul territory to end the inning with HBU still leading, 8-5.

SFA scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run in scoring position, but Stiefel struck out Weaver to end the game.

HBU will play top-seed McNeese State later today at 4 pm.