PHOENIX, Arizona – HBU Softball drops GCU Purple Classic finale against Grand Canyon Sunday afternoon in non-conference softball at GCU Purple Stadium.
Senior
Nicole Shedd went 1-for-2 with a two-run double and a walk. Sophomore
Heidi Jaquez, freshman
Sierra Humphrey and senior
Kay Schroeder each scored for HBU (2-7).
Freshman
Jessica Patak (1-4) took the loss, allowing six runs on four hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. Senior
Stephanie Buenrostro and Elliot Estes made appearances. Buenrostro allowed four runs off six hits and two walks in 2.1 innings, while Estes allowed one run off two hits and no walks in 0.2 innings.
Sierra Smith went 3-for-3 with a home run, five RBIs, and two runs scored, while Shea Smith walked and doubled, driving in one and scored three times. Loriann Olson and Niki Gonzales each drove in two.
Alexa Coons (4-1) earned the win, allowing three runs off one hit, three walks and two strikeouts. Mariah Valencia tossed two scoreless innings off three hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Gonzalez hit a double down the left field line. Smith followed with a home run over center field. Grand Canyon led, 2-0.
The next inning, Bianca Boling led-off with a single to right field. A batter later, Madelyn Dowdle walked, then Taylor Kaye singled off the bunt to load the bases. Patak walked Shea Smith to score Boling. Relief pitch Buenrostro walked Olson to score Dowdle. Gonzalez hit a single to center, driving across two. Smith hit a single up the middle to score Olson. Grand Canyon extended the lead, 7-0.
The Huskies struck in the top of the third, Schroeder reached first, after a hit-by-pitch. Jaquez bunted to reach first and advanced Schroeder to second. Humphrey walked to load the bases, when senior
Kassie James hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Schroeder. Shedd followed with a double to left field to push across Jaquez and Humphrey, 7-3.
The Lopes scored three runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth.
The Huskies host Prairie View A&M for a double-header, starting a 1 p.m. at Husky Field.
