HOUSTON – HBU senior righthander
JT Jakubik turned in five shutout innings, but Stephen F. Austin took advantage when the Huskies went to the bullpen, rallying for eight runs in the sixth for a 9-2 victory in a non-conference matchup between the two Southland foes Tuesday afternoon at Husky Field.
Senior centerfielder
Zane Otten went 2-for-4 and scored a run, while junior first baseman
Jake Pulcheon also went 2-for-4 with a double for HBU (8-7). Senior third baseman
Austin Zillweger drove in both runs for the Huskies, and junior leftfielder
Spencer Halloran doubled and scored a run.
Jakubik allowed only two hits, struck out three and walked two in a no-decision. Sophomore
Marshall Herron came in and allowed two runs, then junior
Weston Smart (1-1) gave up four. Junoir
Cody Marshall allowed a pair of runs and sophomore
JT Newton gave up one in the ninth. Junior
Tanner Luna and sophomore
Daniel Endsley each tossed a scoreless frame.
Tyler Kendrick went 2-for-4, drove in a run and scored twice for SFA (8-10), while Nick Ramos went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Josh Evans and Clark Kahawaii each drove in a pair for the Lumberjacks.
SFA starter Aaron Cardona took a no-decision, holding HBU scoreless on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 4.0 innings. Austin Hearn (1-0) picked up the win, despite allowing both Husky runs on three hits with a strikeout in 2.0 innings. Ryan Thomas, Chris Hassold and Cole Ridgely pitched an inning apiece to hold HBU scoreless over the last three innings.
HBU broke a scoreless tie in the fifth when Halloran led off with a double to rightcenter and Otten reached on a bunt single and stole second. Zillweger delivered a two-run single to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
SFA answered by sending 11 batters to the plate in the sixth. Evans tied the game with a two-run single, then Aaron Hrenevich put the Lumberjacks ahead with an RBI single. Kahawaii and Ramos each added two-run singles as SFA scored eight in the frame.
The Huskies will hit the road to open Southland Conference play against Nicholls Friday through Sunday in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Friday and Saturday games begin at 6 p.m., followed by the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
