HAMMOND, La. – HBU went 7-for-7 in stolen bases and used a solid outing by junior hurler
Shannon O'Connor to run-rule Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 8-0 in six innings, Sunday morning on the final day of the Lion Classic II. HBU went 3-1 in the tournament.
Cecilia Bauer,
Victoria Granchelli, and
Nicole Shedd all had two hits to lead HBU (3-7).
Libby Brown and Shedd had two RBIs apiece.
Melissa Herman did not have a registered at-bat, as she was walked four times. O'Connor allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four in the complete-game shutout. The seven stolen bases were three shy of the program record of 10, set against Wiley on March 20, 2001.
Tires Jacobs went 2-for-3 to lead UAPB (0-11), while Jasmine Hardwrick and Makay Hunter had a hit apiece. Hunter started in the circle and took the loss, as she allowed six hits, seven runs (three earned), and six walks in 3.2 innings. Shanice Murry relieved Hunter and gave up five hits, one run, and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
V. Granchelli led off the bottom of the second with a triple, but was out on the next play, as she tried to score on a grounder by Shedd.
HBU had a three-run bottom of the third to break the scoreless tie. Bauer led off the inning with an infield single. She stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Herman walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position with only one out. Brown singled up the middle bringing home both runs. Brown stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Shedd. The Lady Lions got out of the inning with a fielder's choice to keep the deficit three.
The Huskies put a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open, 7-0. Bauer drew a one-out walk, stole second – her third of the game – and advanced to third on an outfield fly. Herman also walked and stole second. Brown reached base safely on another UAPB error, which allowed Bauer to cross home and Herman to advance to third, increasing the Huskies' lead to 4-0. V. Granchelli followed with a two-run single to left and advanced all the way to third on an error, giving HBU a 6-0 advantage. The Lady Lions changed pitchers, but Shedd gave Murry a rude welcome, as she tripled to right, bringing home V. Granchelli.
HBU threatened to put the run-rule in effect and end the game in the bottom of the fifth with bases loaded with Huskies, but Murry got an inning-ending strikeout without any damage.
Laci Belovsky hit a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth and later scored on an RBI single by
Shay Orsak, ending the game via run-rule.
HBU competes in its final regular season tournament, the Samford Tournament, Feb. 20-22.
