HOUSTON – HBU jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late rally by Nicholls for an 8-3 victory in the Southland Conference series opener Friday afternoon at Husky Field.
Redshirt freshman righthander
Zach Carter (2-3) earned the win, shutting out Nicholls through six, before running into trouble in the seventh and allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks in 6.1 innings. Senior closer
Dylan Zarosky shut out the Colonels and struck out four over the final 2.1 innings to earn his ninth save, breaking the HBU single-season record and extending his career record to 18.
Senior shortstop
Louie Payetta went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run, while junior rightfielder
Brandon Brintz went 2-for-5 with a run for the Huskies (21-23, 10-12 SLC). Sophomore
Carey Jones doubled and drove in three runs, while junior centerfielder
Zane Otten drove in two. Senior designated hitter
Austin Saenz doubled and scored twice, while senior first baseman
Andrew Alvarez also scored twice. Junior catcher
Blake Thomas and senior leftfielder
Brandon Morones each doubled and scored.
Justin Sinibaldi (5-5) took the loss for Nicholls (20-26, 10-12), allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings. Daniel Goff allowed three in 1.1 innings of relief.
Justin Holt went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Kyle Reese went 2-for-3 and scored for the Colonels.
HBU got off to a hot start with three two-out, first-inning runs. Senior third baseman
Justin Monsour drew a bases loaded walk, then Otten followed by ripping a two-run single to center. The Huskies added another two-out run when Saenz double, Brintz singled, then pulled off a double steal.
Thomas led off the fourth with a double, then scored on a single by senior second baseman
Greg Espinosa to put the Huskies ahead, 5-0. The run was the only of the game HBU scored with fewer than two outs.
Carter walked Alex Shermer and Kyle Reese to lead off the seventh, then Ethan Valdez singled to load the bases. Alex Tucker drove in a run with a groundout and Dylan Manichia followed with an RBI single to chase Carter from the game. Nicholls added a sacrifice fly by Holt to cut HBU's lead to 5-3, then senior righthander
Matt Harding walked the bases loaded with two outs. Zarosky came on and got Gavin Wehby to fly out to end the threat.
Morones, Payetta and Alvarez were walked by Goff to load the bases in the eighth, before Jones blasted a two-out, bases-clearing double to dead center to break the game open.
Zarosky struck out the side in the ninth to further etch his name in the HBU record books.
The series continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. start. The HBUTV and Legacy Sports Network broadcasts with
Russ Reneau begin with the pregame show at 12:45 and can be accessed on HBUHuskies.com.
