HAMMOND, Louisiana – HBU softball dropped to Southeastern Louisiana in game one of the double header, 8-2, but big contributions from senior
Nicole Shedd and junior
Demi Janak at the plate leading the Huskies to a 6-4 victory in game two.
Game one
Sophomore
Heidi Jaquez, Janak and senior third baseman
Kassie James all went 1-for-3. James drove in a run, while Jaquez and Janak scored for the Huskies (7-21. 4-10 SLC). Junior
Brooke Bushman also recorded an RBI.
Freshman
Jessica Patak (4-12) earned the loss allowing seven runs on five hits, five errors, four walks and a strikeout in 2.2 innings. Senior relief pitcher
Stephanie Buenrostro held Southeastern Louisiana to one run on four hits, no errors and two walks in 3.1 innings.
The Lady Lions were led by right fielder Ali McCoy, who went 2-for-3 with double, RBI and a run scored. Mattie Ort also went 2-for-3 with a walk and a runs scored. Alli Daigle singled twice, walked and scored twice.
Rachel Hayes earned the win holding the Huskies to just two runs on three hits, no errors, five strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings.
Game two
Shedd and Jaank went 3-for-4 with two RBIs each. Janak also had a double and scored twice. Jaquez singled twice, walked and scored twice. With this performance, she extended her hitting streak to four games.
Freshman pitcher
Elliott Estes (2-4) earned her first Southland Conference win holding SLU to only four runs on eight hits, four errors and three walks in 6.1 innings. Senior
Stephanie Buenrostro got the save allowing no hits and no runs in 0.2 innings.
Kinsey Nichols went 2-for-3 and scored two runs for the Lady Lions. Mahalia Gibson drove in four runs off a double, while Jaquelyn Ramon singled, walked and scored.
Alley McDonald (1-4) got the loss allowing six runs on six hits, three errors, two walks and one strikeout in 3.1 innings. Relief pitcher Lacey Hill held the Huskies scoreless on four hits and one strikeout in 3.2 innings.
The Huskies' offense came alive early in the first inning, as Jaquez led off with a single to right field. With Jaquez on second with one out, Janak singled up the middle, sending Jaquez home.
Kassie James then reached on a throwing error by Ramon at shortstop that sent Janak all the way to third. Shedd put a bunt down to score Janak and reach first herself. The threat ended there, as McDonald retired the next two, 2-0.
The Huskies capitalized on a couple errors by the Lady Lions in the third inning. With nobody on and two outs, Shedd hit a single up the middle and quickly advanced to second the very next play thanks to a fielding error by shortstop Shelby Sitzman. Senior
Kay Schroeder got in on the action with a walk to load the bases.
Amber Lotz reached second and scored two thanks to a fielding error by third baseman Mahalia Gibson, 4-0.
Jaquez led off the fourth with a single to left and moved over to second a play later with a sacrifice bunt by freshman
Sierra Humphrey. Janak hit Jaquez in with a double down to left field and scored herself off a Shedd single, 6-0.
Southeastern Louisiana got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, when Nichols hit a single to the left side and Elliott sent the next batter walking with a hit by pitch. Ramon reached first on a fielder's choice, but bases remained loaded, as everyone was safe. Gibson also reached on a fielder's choice and scored Nichols, but Janak and James were able to get the lead runner out at third for the second out. The Huskies were able to end the inning with the very next batter holding the Lady Lions to just one run, 6-1.
Down to their final three outs, SLU scored three runs on four hits and no errors and had the tying run on base, but the Huskies were able to get out of the inning on top, 6-4.
The series concludes with a 2 p.m. game Saturday, April 7 at North Oak Park.
