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HBU Huskies (14-11,7-8 SLC) vs. Central Arkansas Bears (25-12,13-2 SLC)
Saturday, April 17 (DH) - 3 p.m. | Sunday, April 18 - 2 p.m.
Husky Field - Houston, Texas | Husky Sports Network (YouTube)

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HOUSTON - HBU softball hosts Central Arkansas to continue SLC play with a three-game weekend series at Husky Field. The teams will face off with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch at 3 p.m. with the game three wrap up on Sunday, April 18 at 2 p.m. The Bears lead 11-5 winning eight of the last 10 matchups against the Huskies.

HBU(14-11,7-8 SLC) comes into the week after a 3-0 sweep of UIW last weekend and a non-conference loss in the rematch to Prairie View A&M. Senior Heidi Jaquez leads the lineup for the season batting .386 with eight doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs. She ranks third in SLC play for runs scored with 16 and totals 20 on the season. Redshirt freshman Jasie Roberts leads the team with a .375 batting average in SLC play. On the season, she has seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 17 RBIs batting a .341. Sophomore Autumn Sydlik was named SLC Hitter of the Week on Monday after going 7-for-11 on the weekend with six RBIs and two home runs. She leads the conference in RBIs (23) and is second in home runs (6). She currently bats .319 in SLC play. Redshirt freshman Shelby Echols bats .358 in SLC play while sophomore Caitlyn Brockway bats .326 with two doubles and 12 RBIs.

Redshirt freshman Lyndie Swanson (5-0) leads the pitching staff on the season with 1.24 ERA throwing 50.2 innings giving up just 13 runs on the season while striking out 38. She has given up just three runs in the 17.2 innings pitched in the last three SLC series for HBU and is sixth in the SLC with a 1.40 ERA. Junior Jessica Patak (5-7) has thrown 60.1 innings ranking sixth in the SLC with 37 strikeouts on the season. Sarah Venker (2-1) has thrown 22.1 innings with 17 strikeouts while Katy Janes (0-2) has gone 13.2 innings with eight strikeouts. 

Central Arkansas (23-12,13-2 SLC) currently ranks second in the conference with their only losses coming from a 1-2 series against McNeese. The Bears come into the weekend after a 3-0 sweep of Nicholls. They are led by Jenna Wildeman for the season batting a .423 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs. Mary Kate Brown bats .406 with 10 doubles, two triples and three homers ranking second in SLC with 17 runs scored and earned a SLC Hitter of the Week earlier in the season. Another SLC Hitter of the week winner Jaylee Engelkes bats .394 in SLC play with five doubles, three homers and 13 RBIs.

Two time SLC Pitcher of the Week winner Kayla Beaver (8-1) looks to start in the circle for the Bears leading the conference with a 0.59 ERA in 47.2 innings thrown giving up just nine runs with 37 strikeouts. Jordan Johnson has also been named SLC Pitcher of the Week once, ranking fourth in the conference with a 1.32 ERA. She has thrown 43.2 innings with 43 strikeouts.

The Huskies will see action next with a mid-week non-conference matchup with neighbor Texas Southern, hosting a Tuesday night game at Husky Field at 6 p.m. on April 20.