Photo GalleryHOUSTON – HBU softball rode the arm of junior pitcher
Laci Belovsky as the Huskies shut out visiting UTSA, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon from Husky Field.
The win was the first over the Roadrunners since a 6-0 win in San Antonio on April 18, 2012.
Belovsky (8-11) pitched a gem, holding UTSA to three hits while tying a career high with eight strikeouts. She struck out eight Florida Gulf Coast batters back on Feb. 6. She put the Roadrunners down in order twice and struck out the side in the top of the second. It was her fourth complete-game shutout of the season.
Kay Schroeder,
Libby Brown, and
Michaela Granchelli each had a hit to lead HBU (11-27). Brown had the lone RBI while
Melissa Herman scored the game's only run.
Leadoff hitter Kendall Burton had all three hits for UTSA (30-15), going 3-for-3. Megan Low, with 15 home runs on the season, did not have an official at-bat as she was walked three times. Belovsky got three Roadrunners to strike out twice.
Chelsea Parker (8-4) took the loss in the circle as she allowed three hits and one earned run in the complete-game effort.
UTSA threatened in the top of the first, with runners at first and second with one out, but the Huskies got a fielder's choice and a fly out to end the inning unscathed.
After getting the Roadrunners out in order to start the second inning, Herman began the bottom half of the inning being hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on Belovsky's sacrifice bunt, and to third on Schroeder's single to center. With runners on the corners, Brown laid down a bunt that not only allowed Herman to cross home, but the speedy Brown was safe at first to give HBU a 1-0 lead. UTSA was able to get a pop up and a fielder's choice to end the inning without further damage.
UTSA's best chance to score came in the top of the third as, with runners at first and second with two outs, Vivian Tijerina just missed hitting a three-run home run, as she hit it off the end of the bat and flew out to deep center field to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Belovsky helped her own cause by grabbing back-to-back ground balls and getting force-outs. With a pinch runner at second base, Belovsky got Taylor Oberg to strike out swinging.
HBU returns to Southland Conference play hosting Central Arkansas Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25. April's doubleheader begins at 2 pm, while Saturday's single game starts at noon.
