HUNTSVILLE, Texas– The HBU softball team split their Southland Conference doubleheader at Sam Houston State, falling 5-4 and winning 3-2 on Friday afternoon at Bearkat Softball Complex.
Freshman shortstop
Savana Guidry led the Huskies (13-22, 5-11 SLC) at the plate against the Bearkats (15-26, 7-10 SLC), turning in a 6-for-8 showing with one double, one triple, one RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Guidry went a perfect 4-for-4 in game two of the doubleheader, a first for the program since teammate
Nicole Shedd did so against Central Arkansas on April 24, 2015.
Senior pitcher
Shannon O'Connor (4-7) picked up her second straight win in the circle, limiting SHSU to two hits and two runs in a complete-game effort. Fellow senior righty
Laci Belovsky (7-13) took the loss in game one, surrendering five runs (three earned) on seven hits in going the distance for the 15th time on the season.
With the series tied, 1-1, HBU will go for the series win in a 3 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.
Game 2: HBU 3, Sam Houston State 2
The Bearkats plated both their runs in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Breanna Homer reached on an infield error to open the frame, before shortstop Tiffany Castillo brought her in on a home run over the left field wall.
With the lead in hand, SHSU starter Jordan Frank kept the Huskies at bay though five innings.
Junior right fielder
Cecilia Bauer, who went 3-for-4 in the game, led off the sixth inning with a double into the left-center gap. With one out, freshman designated player
Brooke Bushman drove in Bauer with a single to left field to chase Frank.
Trailing 2-1 entering their last at bat, a single, walk and wild pitch put two in scoring position for HBU with one out. The Huskies scored the tying run on a wild pitch to freshman second baseman
Demi Janak, who walked, before Bauer pushed across the eventual game-winner with a bunt single.
With their first lead of the game, O'Connor retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the 3-2 edge.
Game 1: Sam Houston State 5, HBU 4
HBU struck first in the series opener, scoring two runs in the opening frame. Guidry led off the game with a triple, before scoring on a sacrifice bunt from senior third baseman
Shay Orsak in the next at bat. Sophomore first baseman
Libby Brown and Bauer both singled for the Huskies to score one more.
After the Bearkats scored one unearned run in the bottom of the first, HBU answered with an unearned run in the top of the second.
SHSU plated four runs over the team's next two trips to the plate to hold a 5-3 advantage through three innings.
The Huskies scored their final run of the game on a solo homer from Brown in the top of the fifth.
