HOUSTON – HBU sophomore third baseman Autumn Sydlik accounted for both run with a pair of solo homers to lift the Huskies past Central Arkansas in a 2-1 decision in the Southland Conference series finale at Husky Field on Sunday afternoon.
Sydlik nailed both home runs for the HBU (16-12,9-9 SLC) victory going back-to-back weekends with multiple home runs in the third game. Redshirt freshmen Shelby Echols and Jasie Roberts each went 1-for-3 on the game as did senior Heidi Jaquez with a double.
Lyndie Swanson (7-0) took the win, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out one tossing three innings in relief. Swanson has allowed just 13 runs in the 60.2 innings thrown on the season, giving up just three in the last 38.5 innings thrown. Jessica Patak threw the first four innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three.
Kaylyn Shepherd went 2-for-3 with two doubles, bring in Central Arkansas' (26-14,14-4 SLC) only run for an RBI. Tremere Harris went 2-for-3, reaching on an error for a double. Jenna Wildeman went 1-for-4 and Kristen Whitehouse went 1-for-3 with a double.
Jordan Johnson (9-5) threw a complete game, taking the loss in the circle, allowing two runs on five hits and walking one while striking out five.
Shepherd doubled for UCA in the third deep into left field allowing Harris on third base to score. Wildeman was inches from another run coming from second, but Roberts nailed the connection to Jaquez at the plate for the out.
Sydlik stepped up to bat with two outs on the board, knocking her seventh home run to tie it up and show why she was the reigning SLC Hitter of the week. One just wasn't enough as she hit a second home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth for the winning run.
With two outs on the board and a runner on third, Riley Bullen nabs a deep fly to center field, sealing the SLC second ranked Bears' fate.
HBU will return to Husky Field next weekend for their final home series of the season as they host Lamar. Friday night opens the series with a doubleheader with game three and senior day following on Saturday, April 24 at noon.
