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CONWAY, Ark. – Kassie James drove in a career-high six runs as the HBU softball team defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Central Arkansas Invitational for the team's fourth-straight win on Saturday morning.
 
The game remained scoreless through two and a half with the Huskies (6-4) stranding baserunners in both of the first two innings. In the third, Heidi Jaquez reached on a one-out single before Nicole Shedd moved her up and reached on a fielder's choice. With runners on first and second, Kassie James stroked a two-out double down the left field line to bring in two runs and stake HBU to an early 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Monique Niko and Kameron Grah led things off with back-to-back doubles, putting runners on second and third with no outs. After Niko was caught at home on a fielder's choice, Lydia Mitche singled home a run followed by a two-run double to make the score 3-2 in the Lions' favor. UAPB (2-11) added a fourth run on a two-out double by Ta'Lyn Moody.
 
Cecilia Bauer got the HBU fourth started with a walk before stealing second. Sophomore Brooke Bushman followed and smacked a 2-2 offering over the fence down the right field line for her second home run in as many games, tying things at 4-4. Two batters later, with two outs, Jaquez doubled to right followed by walks issued to Demi Janak and Shedd to load the bases. Following a pitching change, James welcomed the new Lions pitcher with a double to left center on an 0-2 pitch, clearing the bases for three HBU runs. Freshman Megan Hiers kept things rolling with a triple to right to bring James home and give the Huskies an 8-4 lead.
 
Bushman got the HBU fifth going with a leadoff infield single then stole second. After a pair of Husky strikeouts, Jaquez picked up her third hit of the day, singling to right and scoring Bushman. Janak and Shedd then drew back-to-back walks for the second-straight inning and a third consecutive walk to James brought Jaquez across the plate. Hiers then singled up the middle with the bases loaded to bring two more runs across and end the game for a 12-4 HBU run-rule win.
 
James, who had three RBI on the season coming into the game, drove in six runs thanks to a pair of doubles and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and added a run scored. Jaquez enjoyed her fifth multi-hit game of the year, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI. Hiers has now hit safely in eight of her first 10 collegiate games, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI. Bushman was the fourth Husky to record multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
Stephanie Buenrostro earned the win in the circle, coming on in relief to one and two-thirds innings to move to 2-1 on the year. The junior allowed zero runs while allowing three hits and striking out three. Freshman Shae Bibby started for the Huskies, allowing four earned runs over three and a third on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.
 
HBU will face Louisiana-Monroe in the Huskies' second game of the day at the Central Arkansas Invitational on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.