HOUSTON – HBU softball splits the evening double header with Southeastern Louisiana with the Lions taking game one 2-1 and the Huskies taking game two 6-5 in a late inning thriller. The teams will face off Saturday at NOON in the series decider.
GAME ONE: Both teams went back and forth with quick outs for the first three innings. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that the Huskies were able to be first on the board with senior Heidi Jaquez blasting her first homerun of the season to center field. The Lions answered quick in the top of the fifth when a two run Aeriyl Mass triple put them ahead by one. The Lions pitched a quick three up three down in the fifth and sixth innings, and with a double play in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions captured the win. HBU had three total hits to SE Louisiana's six hits.
Jessica Patak (3-5) took the loss in the circle pitching a full seven innings giving up two runs on six hits with one batter walked, while adding two strikeouts. Ellie Dubois took the save for the Lions going two innings with zero runs on one hits with one walks and three strikeouts.
GAME TWO: The Huskies had six runs on seven hits with Autumn Sydlik racking up her third homerun three weekends in a row. HBU came out quick in the lineups first at bat with a fielder's choice that left Caitlyn Brockway on first and brought home Shelby Echols. Jasie Roberts nailed a double over the center fielder to bring in Brockway for a 2-0 lead. With a single for Echols in the second inning to put Riley Martin on second, Jaquez followed, getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sydlik also gets hit by a pitch to bring home Martin for the 3-0 lead. The Huskies held strong until Mass nailed a three-run shot to deep left field to tie the game just before being thrown out to go into the bottom of the fourth. The Lions pulled ahead by two after and RBI advance on the throw and an RBI from a sacrifice fly. Both teams go three up three down to take HBU in their hopeful last bat. Sierra Humphrey led off big with a single up the middle. With two outs on the bored, Sydlik knocks her third season homerun right into the bottom of the scoreboard in right field to tie the game 5-5. With Brockway walked, Jacie Roberts steps up and repeats her first at bat of the game with another double to bring in the winning Brockway run. Huskies held the lions to one hit with one left on base to seal the victory.
Lyndie Swanson (2-0) took the win in the circle pitching 3.1 innings with two runs on four hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Sarah Venker began the game pitching 3.2 innings with three runs on three hits, with four walks and three strikeouts. Sophie Hannabas (0-3) took the circle loss for the Lions with three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings pitched with two walks and five strikeouts.
First pitch for the deciding game three will be at NOON on Saturday, March 20.
