HBU Huskies (10-20, 2-10 SLC) vs. Stephen F. Austin (16-19, 6-5 SLC)
April 8-9
Husky Field • Houston, Texas
Live Stream | Live Audio | Live Stats
HOUSTON – The HBU softball team returns to Southland Conference play and closes a four-game homestand, hosting Stephen F. Austin in a three-game series across April 8-9 at Husky Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, starting at 1 p.m., before concluding in a noon first pitch on Saturday.
A video and audio broadcast with Bill Cousins will be available on HBUHuskies.com, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to the first pitch of each contest.
The Huskies, 4-7 at home, are looking to snap a 10-game losing streak. HBU last won in a 10-6 decision on March 18 at Northwestern State.
Senior pitcher
Laci Belovsky leads the Huskies in the circle, owning a 6-12 record and 4.43 ERA through 23 appearances and 18 starts. Belovsky has logged a staff-best 13 complete games, tied for the league lead, with 43 strikeouts across 115 and a third innings pitched.
At the plate, senior third baseman
Shay Orsak leads the team with a .341 batting average. Sophomore utility player
Libby Brown (.326) and freshman shortstop
Savana Guidry (.313), who owns a team-high 10 stolen bases, are also hitting above a .300 clip, respectively.
Freshman second baseman
Demi Janak leads HBU with a .512 slugging percentage, four home runs and 15 RBI. She is tied with Orsak and sophomore left fielder
Nicole Shedd for the team mark with six doubles.
The Ladyjacks enter the series with a 16-19 overall record and 6-5 mark in SLC play to sit in fifth place. SFA is coming on a 9-0 five-inning loss at No. 10 Texas A&M on Wednesday in which the team was no-hit.
SFA is under the guidance of head coach Gay McNutt, in her eight season at the helm. The Ladyjacks' game against the Aggies had added significance for McNutt, as she was a four-year starter for Texas A&M at catcher from 1982-1985. She was named to the all-region team all four years and earned All-American honors as a senior in 1985. McNutt, who served as team captain in each of her last two seasons, helped the Aggies to a pair of national championships.
The Ladyjacks are winners of their last two conference series, taking meetings with both Southeastern Louisiana and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi two games to one.
SFA is hitting .253 as a team. Junior first baseman/pitcher Brittany Lewis and sophomore catcher Taylor Fraccastoro co-lead the Ladyjacks with .340 batting averages. Lewis in the reigning SLC Hitter of the Week after batting .714 (5-for-7) and slugging 1.286, recording one double, one home run and six RBI in the team's series with TAMU-CC.
SFA has used four pitchers this season in sophomores Callee Guffey (5-4, 3.10 ERA) and Makayla Sikes (4-7, 3.35 ERA), Lewis (6-4, 3.72 ERA) and senior Hannah Welch (1-4, 4.03 ERA), as the staff holds a 3.51 collective ERA.
The Ladyjacks lead the all-time series, 21-10.
Following the weekend, HBU will play its next four games on the road. The Huskies will visit Sam Houston State for three games across April 15-16, before making a trip out to Prairie View A&M on April 19.
