BEAUMONT, Texas – HBU softball dropped the first two of a three-game set at Lamar by scores of 11-0 in five innings and 4-2 Friday at the newly-christened Lamar Softball Complex.
In game one, Lamar jumped out to a 6-0 lead through the first two innings and HBU booted the ball six times en route to an 11-0 run-rule loss to the Lady Cardinals.
Cecilia Bauer and
Nicole Shedd each went 2-for-3 to lead HBU, while both
Melissa Herman and
Alyssa Burnett had a hit apiece.
Laci Belovsky started and took the loss as she allowed five hits, six runs (two earned) and two walks with one strikeout in 1.2 innings.
Shannon O'Connor tossed the final 2.1 innings and gave up four hits, five runs (three earned), and one walk while whiffing two.
Sable Hankins went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored to lead the Lady Cardinals. Laura Napoli tossed a complete-game shutout, as she allowed six hits and struck out two.
Casey Cromwell led off the bottom of the first with a double. She advanced to third on a sac bunt and scored on a Hankins RBI double. Hankins later scored on a fielding error and Marissa LeJune drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the three-run first for Lamar.
Hankins' second RBI of the game gave the Lady Cardinals their fourth run of the ballgame. Two HBU errors resulted in two Lady Cardinals run, as Lamar led, 6-0. Lamar scored a single run in the bottom of the third before a four-run fourth broke the game open.
HBU drew first blood in game two, but Lamar had all four of its hits and runs in the bottom of the fourth to complete the sweep.
In the top of the second, Herman led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a groundout to second base, and scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the fourth, after a one-out walk to Hankins, Shannon Sain gave the hosts the lead with a two-run homer to left-center. Two RBI doubles concluded the inning as Lamar took a 4-1 lead into the fifth.
HBU got one of the runs back in the next half inning, as
Libby Brown hit an infield single to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a sac bunt, then eventually scored on consecutive singles, the latter being an RBI knock by Bauer. HBU threatened in the top of the sixth, but Napoli came in in relief and got out of the jam unscathed.
Herman went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead HBU, while Bauer had the lone RBI, as she went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Emily Mueller took the tough loss in the circle, as she allowed three hits, four runs, and one walk with one strikeout in 3.1 innings.
Four different Lady Cardinals had a hit, as Sain led the way with two RBIs. Lauren Dannelley earned the win as she gave up nine hits and two runs while striking out two in 5.0 innings. Napoli, who earned the win in game one, had the save in game two.
HBU (6-12 overall, 0-2 SLC) and Lamar (9-9, 2-0) conclude the series Saturday at 1 pm.
