HOUSTON – Northeastern overcame a five-run deficit with an eight-run, fifth-inning surge, then held off HBU for 14-8 victory to even the season-opening, non-conference baseball series Saturday afternoon at Husky Field.
Junior first baseman
Johnny Gonzales homered and drove in three runs for the second-straight game for HBU (1-1). Junior rightfielder
Brandon Bena had two hits and drove in a pair, while senior catcher
Erik Voller and senior designated hitter
Anthony Jones each had two hits and drove in a run for the Huskies. Junior third baseman
Trent Franson and junior shortstop
Nathan Soriano each scored twice.
Junior righthander
Kyle Gruller gave up one run on no hits, struck out three and walked four in 3.2 innings. Junior righthander
Jacob Coats (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs, only two earned, on four hits in one inning.
Scott Holzwasser went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and three runs, while Corey DiLoreto went 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBIs and three runs for Northeastern (1-1). Jared Dupere was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, while John Mazza and Jeff Costello each drove in three for the Huskies.
Starter Brandon Dufault allowed six runs, five earned, on three hits in one-plus innings, but Brian Rodriguez (1-0) picked up the win, holding HBU scoreless on five hits over four innings. Andrew Misiaszek earned his first save of the year, holding HBU scoreless on one hit over the final two innings.
Franson singled to lead off the first and scored when Bena reached on an error. NU tied the game when DiLoreto walked to lead off the second and scored on a double steal.
In the bottom of the second, HBU scored five runs, with Voller scoring on a wild pitch and Soriano plating a run with a hit by pitch. Gonzales lifted a sacrifice fly to center, then Bena followed with a two-run single for a 6-1 lead.
In the fifth, Costello's two-run single cut HBU's lead to one, then Holzwasser's two run double down the left field line put Northeastern ahead, 7-6. DiLoreto delivered a two-run single to put Northeastern up, 9-6.
Gonzales blasted a two-run homer to right in the sixth to pull HBU back within one at 9-8.
Northeastern put the game away with four runs in the top of the ninth, with Dupere RBI single and Mazza's bases-clearing, three-run double.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday at Husky Field. The video broadcast with
Russ Reneau will be available on hbu.edu/live or HBUHuskies.com, beginning at 12:45 p.m.
