HOUSTON – HBU junior righthander
Addison Russ turned in another brilliant start, striking out a season-high nine, and the Huskies scored all of their runs with two outs in a 3-2 victory over McNeese State in the Southland Conference baseball opener Friday night at Cowboy Diamond.
Russ (3-0) allowed two runs on six hits and walked six in eight innings for the Huskies (9-5, 1-0 SLC). Senior
Dylan Zarosky tossed a perfect ninth, striking out a pair, for his fourth save of the year. Zarosky moved into second place on HBU's all-time saves list with 13, two behind leader J.D. Sellers.
Senior shortstop
Louie Payetta went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, while senior third baseman
Justin Monsour went 1-for-3 and scored twice. Junior rightfielder
Brandon Brintz drove in the other run, while senior second baseman
Greg Espinosa also scored.
Kaleb Fontenot (1-2) also had an outstanding performance on the hill for the Cowboys (6-6, 0-1), allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in 7.2 innings. Trent Fontenot held the Huskies scorless on three hits over the final 1.1 innings.
Despite McNeese putting the leadoff runner on four times, including a pair of leadoff doubles, the game was scoreless through five. Monsour then led off the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a flyout by junior centerfielder
Joe Van Marter. With two outs, Payetta lined a single to rightcenter to give HBU a 1-0 lead.
Todd Hinkley drew a walk, one of his four on the night, with one out in the sixth, then Joe Provenzano ripped a triple to right to tie the game. Lewis Guilbeau lifted a fly ball to right and Brintz threw out Provenzano at the plate to complete the inning-ending double play.
Monsour reached on an error with one out in the eighth, then stole second as Van Marter struck out. Espinosa singled to right, then Payetta followed with a single to plate Monsour with the go-ahead run. Brintz smacked a single up the middle to bring Espinosa home and put the Huskies ahead, 3-1.
Hinkley drew another walk with two outs in the eighth, then Provenzano singled to left. Guilbeau delivered an RBI single to right to cut the Huskies' lead to 3-2, but pinch hitter Jake Cochran flied out to left.
In the bottom of the ninth, Espinosa made a diving stop to his left and nipped Will Fox by a step for the first out. Zarosky then struck out Cameron Toole and Shane Selman to seal the win.
The series continues Saturday at 3 p.m., followed by the finale Sunday at 1 p.m. The Legacy Sports Network broadcast with
Russ Reneau begins 15 minutes prior to the first pitch on HBUHuskies.com and fans can also watch the game via Periscope on the official HBU Athletics Twitter handle, @HBUHuskies.
