HOUSTON – Sophomore outfielder
Cecilia Bauer hit a two-run blast to left and junior hurler
Laci Belovsky tossed another gem as HBU took game one from second-place Central Arkansas, 5-1, Friday afternoon from Husky Field. The Bears defeated the Huskies in game two, 9-4.
The two teams will look to untie both the season and all-time series (4-4) Saturday at noon.
HBU drew first blood in game one as
Melissa Herman's RBI double to center brought home
Shay Orsak from third in the bottom of the first.
UCA would tie the game in the top of the fourth as Hayley Parker's RBI single to right-center allowed Hannah Stirton to cross the plate.
The deadlock was short-lived as HBU took the lead for good on Bauer's two-out, two-run home run to left in the bottom half of the frame.
The Bears had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the top of the fifth, with the bases loaded and one out, but
Libby Brown's heads-up play got the force-out at home for the second out and Orsak snagged a sharp grounder down the line to get the force-out at third to end the inning without any damage.
The next inning, HBU got some insurance, as Brown hit a two-run double to center to give the Huskies a four-run lead.
Herman and Brown each had two hits to lead HBU, while Brown and Bauer had two RBIs apiece. Belovsky improved to 9-11 on the season as she allowed five hits, one run, and three walks with three strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Five different Bears registered a hit, while Parker had the lone RBI. Kylee Studioso dropped to 23-10 on the season, as she allowed six hits, three runs, and two walks with one strikeout in 3.2 innings. Kayla Gomness tossed the final 2.1 innings.
In game two, UCA took advantage of free passes as the Bears took a big lead early. UCA scored five times in the top of the first, as the Huskies had three walks in the inning. The Bears added three more runs in the top of the second thanks to six walks in the frame.
HBU battled back and put a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth, as singles by
Erica Reyes and Bauer put runners at first and second with two outs. Orsak's two-run double to center allowed both runners to score. Orsak would later score on a UCA error to make it 9-3.
Nicole Shedd's RBI single allowed Granchelli to cross home to complete the scoring.
Shedd went 4-for-4 in the game, the second four-hit game she has had this season. Bauer continued the hot bat, as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Shannon O'Connor (3-9) took the loss as she lasted just two-thirds of an inning.
Emily Mueller and Belovsky also saw action as the trio combined for three strikeouts.
Five different players had a hit for UCA while the top three hitters in Sam Forrest, Briana Whisenhunt, and Sarah Bigej each had two runs. Ashley Boswell had a game-high three RBIs. Gomness (3-0) earned the win in relief as she allowed three hits in 2.1 innings.
