HOUSTON – Senior first baseman
Melissa Herman registered two of the team's three RBIs and sophomore hurler
Emily Mueller struck out three in a complete-game effort as HBU defeated host Texas Southern, 3-2, on a cool, windy Tuesday at Memorial Park.
Despite going 0-for-1 at the plate, Herman had a key sacrifice bunt and drew a bases-loaded walk to lead all players with two RBIs for HBU (13-29).
Victoria Granchelli,
Libby Brown, and
Shay Orsak each had two-hit games, with the latter leading all players with two runs scored.
Mueller earned her first win of the season with a strong outing, as she scattered seven hits and allowed two runs and five walks with three strikeouts.
Lead-off hitter Jessica Miller went 4-for-4 to lead Texas Southern (18-16). Briana Bryant took the loss as she relieved starter Madison Staton, who went 3.0 innings. Bryant allowed two runs, two hits, and three walks in 1.2 innings. Samantha Jiminez tossed the final 2.1 innings.
HBU was in business to start the game, as Orsak hit her team-leading eighth double of the season, then advanced to third on an infield single by V. Granchelli. Granchelli stole second as HBU had two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Herman hit a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line to allow Orsak to score and give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
TSU looked to tie the game with a runner on third in the bottom half of the inning, but Brianna Parker hit an inning-ending 643 double play to end the threat.
The Lady Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the second, as, with runners at first and third, they pulled a successful double steal, allowing Chanler Powell to score. V. Granchelli made a great catch on a lineout, going to her left to snag the ball to end the inning without further damage.
After the Huskies got the Lady Tigers to go down in order in the bottom of the fourth – Mueller striking out the final batter in the frame, Krystalani Yockman, on three pitches – the Huskies took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth as Herman and
Madison Vonhagel drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks. That chased Bryant from the circle, as Jimenez entered the game. Jimenez got a strikeout to end the inning.
HBU got itself into a jam in the bottom of the fifth, with bases loaded with Lady Tigers and only one out, but a groundout to Herman got the force out at home. A bases-loaded wild pitch brought TSU within one, 3-2, but HBU regrouped and got Chelsea Guenther to ground out to end the frame.
Mueller got TSU out in order in the bottom of the sixth, but ran into a jam in the decisive seventh. After back-to-back singles, Brianna Simpson laid a sac bunt to move the runners into scoring position for the SWAC's leading hitter in Thomasina Garza with one out. Mueller just missed striking out Garza, walking her instead and loading the bases. Mueller got a big strikeout, getting Parker to chase for the second out of the frame. The Huskies got Guenther to ground out to end the inning.
HBU closes out the season hosting Abilene Christian Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2. Friday's doubleheader begins at 2 pm while Saturday's "Senior Day" game starts at noon. Following the game, seniors
Victoria Granchelli,
Michaela Granchelli,
Melissa Herman, and
Erica Schmalenberger will be honored. Also, the first 50 fans each day will receive either a rally towel or water bottle courtesy of series sponsor, Houston Federal Credit Union.
