HOUSTON – HBU rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to hold off Nicholls and clinch the Southland Conference series with a 7-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Husky Field.
Senior second baseman
Greg Espinosa went 3-for-4 and scored twice, while junior centerfielder
Zane Otten also went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for HBU (22-24, 11-13 SLC). Senior designated hitter
Austin Saenz and junior rightfielder
Brandon Brintz each doubled and drove in two runs, while senior first baseman
Andrew Alvarez went 1-for-3, drove in a run and scored twice.
Junior righthander
Addison Russ (8-4) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 7.2 innings. Senior closer
Dylan Zarosky recorded the final four outs to notch his 10
th save of the year, extending his single season record, and running his career record to 19.
Alex Shermer went 3-for-4 and scored a run, while Dylan Manichia doubled and drove in all three runs for the Colonels (21-27, 11-13).
Alex Ernestine (3-4) took the loss, giving up six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings.
The Huskies got off to another good start, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Espinosa singled, Alvarez walked, then Saenz dropped a two-run double just inside the rightfield line to give HBU the lead. After Seanz went to third on a wild pitch, Otten drove him in with a bunt single.
Nicholls answered right back in the top of the second when Shermer and Gavin Wehby singled to lead off the inning. Ethan Valdez was hit by a pitch, then Manichia hit a two-out, bases-clearing double to rightcenter to tie the game, 3-3.
Russ settled in after that and held the Colonels scoreless over the next six before turning it over to Zarosky.
Senior shortstop
Louie Payetta walked with one out in the fifth, Espinosa single and Alvarez drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center. With Espinosa at third, Alvarez stole second, then Brintz ripped a two-run double to leftcenter. Otten hit a pop up on the right side of the infield, but neither the second baseman nor the first baseman could track it among the overcast clouds, allowing Brintz to score and giving Otten an RBI single to make the score 7-3.
With two outs and two runner on in the eighth, Zarosky came on to face Trevor Flynn, who hit a fly ball to leftcenter field and Otten laid out to make a diving catch for the final out to preserve the lead.
The Huskies play their final non-conference game of the season against Texas Southern Tuesday at 4 p.m. at MacGregor Park.
